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Karthyayani Amma with 2017 Nari Shakti
Puraskar winner Dr M S Sunil.

Harippad: “There are numerous set and mundu in my suitcase obtained as gift when I scored rank. I will don a good one while going. Also I need to pack another one to wear while coming back”. Karthyayani Amma is all smiles when speaking of the preparations for her first flight.

98-year-old Karthyayani Amma, a native of Alappuzha, will receive the Union government’s Nari Shakti Puraskar, a national award to recognise exceptional work for women empowerment, for the year 2019, in Delhi on Women’s Day. She was selected for the award along with 105-year-old Bageerathi Amma of Kollam. Karthyayani Amma had scored first rank in the ‘Aksharalaksham’ equivalency exam organised by Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority.

Karthyayani Amma rarely boarded a bus and she has only seen aeroplane flying above the sky. Once she had boarded a train.

On Saturday, she will fly to Delhi along with her younger daughter Amminiyamma and Sathi, a prerak of Literacy Mission.

Usually the system is that the travel expense will be reimbursed. However, Karthyayani Amma had earlier decided not to go to Delhi over financial crisis. But revenue department intervened and resolved the issue.

Nowadays, Karthyayni Amma is very busy as a number of people arrive at her house to see and congratulate the exam topper.

On Thursday evening, Pathanamthitta native and 2017 Nari Shakti Puraskar winner Dr M S Sunil visited her and narrated on the event. She told her that the honour will be presented by the President. An attentive Karthyayani Amma later responded that she is not at all anxious about the day.  

It was in August 2018, Karthyayani Amma passed the exam at 96. After clearing the Class 4 and Class 8 equivalency exam, the nonagenarian is all set to give her Class 10 equivalency exam.