Battling adversities with faith, positivity

Indomitable faith in God as well as the grit to fight against adversities has made 63-year-old Indian Abdulla Kattukandi, a quadriplegic for the last 30 years due to an accident, a living example of hope and positivity."I consider the accident as a gift of God and that has made me what I am today. I was not even a good reader during my earlier life, but started reading after the accident and wrote five books. I am travelling a lot despite my handicap. I thank God for all the blessings in my life,” a joyful Abdulla told Gulf Times.On a private visit to Qatar, Abdulla recollected the accident. "After a short stint in Bahrain for two years, I was doing a small scale business of dried coconut in Kozhikode, Kerala. On May 21, 1993, I was returning home after a business-related visit when a giant tree fell on my vehicle. When I came back to my senses, I did not feel any sensation below my neck and doctors had no hope of me pulling through as my spinal cord was severed.”Abdulla along with his wife Ruqya — the pillar of strength behind his present cheerful life and who accompanies him just like his shadow — is in Qatar to visit his sons who are residents of the country. An alumnus of Farook College, Kozhikode, Abdulla was recently honoured by the old students association of the college in Qatar.His elder son Shaeer Abdulla is an engineer with beIN Sports while his second son Shajir Abdulla, is a dentist. His daughter Ameena Najmal is settled in Kerala.Abdulla remembered that it was a tight rope walk between life and death in the very early days after the accident. "A long struggle and battle followed the accident where I trod a thin line between life and death. For several days, nobody believed that I would survive and even if I did, I would be in a vegetative state. But God’s grace and the strong support from my wife and some intimate friends made me pull through and get back to life.”After the treatment, through regular physiotherapy, things started looking better for Abdulla and he embarked on his second stint of life."I started reading books and thought of writing something. It took me days to practise writing and even for writing a single letter, it took me minutes. But slowly, I got used to the situation and started penning my first book, Athijivinathinte Pusthakam (The book of survival),” he recalled.Abdulla’s doctors and physiotherapists were surprised to see him writing and encouraged with motivational words."Later by using mobile phone for typing, it became easier for me and so far I have published five books. My book Prathyashayude Gopuram (The tower of hope) was released at the Sharjah Book Fair and translated to English and Arabic.” Abdulla, who also shares motivational thoughts through his social media platforms, has extensively travelled across India and visited several Gulf countries. The wheelchair-bound individual even hiked the highest peak of a Kerala hill station named Vagamon, which is 1,100m above sea level."Abdullakka has been a great source of inspiration for me. Whenever, I faced difficulties in my business and life, I recollect the struggle and the challenges he had undergone all these years and immediately I get charged up to start anew,” said Doha-based entrepreneur Shumaiz.Abdulla says his life has been a motivation for several people as they found his books encouraging and his life, a model to be emulated."A school teacher who got into a bike accident near my place, had to amputate her leg and decided to discontinue her work. After reading my book, she came to meet me and decided to continue her job and presently she is leading a happy life. A couple whose two children were suffering from mental health issues were motivated to face the challenges as they came to know my life example. I am really happy that I am able to motivate many people and lead a happy life,” added Abdulla.