Kerala medico known for her motivational video on failures faces cruel twist of fate

Manjeri: The unexpected death of Wayanad MBBS student Fathima Thazkiya has left her friends and family members in anguish. 

The 24-year-old girl was popular among netizens for her motivational video on her ambitious pursuit of MBBS despite a series of setbacks in life. The video titled ‘Thottu Thottu Njanoru Doctor Ayi’ (Back-to-back failures made me a doctor) uploaded on YouTube 10 months ago has already garnered more than 10 million views on social media. 

In the video, Thazkiya explained the troubles she and her family faced when the NEET exam was around the corner. She was hospitalised due to poor health conditions and cleared the NEET in her third attempt despite the odds. Interestingly she also secured admission at Kozhikode Medical College, her preferred institute. 

In a cruel twist of fate, a road accident claimed the life of the girl, who had been pursuing second-year MBBS. Incidentally, the accident happened when she was returning from a medical camp. 

Thazkiya is also the daughter of OMA Salam, jailed and former chairman of the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI). Salam has been tendered three-day parole for attending her last rites.