Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — An Indian social worker, who has nursed thousands of poor and sick expatriates and performed funeral rites of hundreds of dead bodies, was honored at a function here on Saturday.



Muhammadali Padapparamb from the southern Indian state of Kerala was presented with the Media One channel’s best social worker award in the Gulf states by V.K. Hamza Abbas, editor in chief of Gulf Madhaymam daily, at a function attended by prominent community leaders.



Addressing the function, the speakers lauded the exemplary example set by Padapparamb in social work and voluntary services.



They said that Padapparamb is always keen to stay away from publicity while rendering selfless services to those poor expatriates who used to take shelter under the bridge in Jeddah’s Kandra district as well as on pavements.



The organizers disclosed that they were forced to organize a function here to present the award because Padapparamb refused to fly to Sharjah to receive the award at the first anniversary celebrations of the channel.



Around 30,000 people participated in the grand function called “Expatriate Festival,” held at the Sharjah stadium on March 28.



“Until up to the last moment, we were anxious whether Padapparamb would turn up to partake this function also,” said V.M. Ibrahim, executive editor of Gulf Madhyamam, who anchored the event.



Abbas, the chief guest, commended the unique model set by the Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, in humanitarian works.



“This is the fertile land for humanitarian work where there are plenty of sources for compassion and mercy that are never draining.



"Padapparamb is the best example of how an ordinary expatriate can become a ‘one-man army’ in soothing the pain and alleviating the suffering of ordinary people living around him,” he said while urging expatriates to shoulder their responsibilities to render support to poor and destitute people.



Abbas also urged expatriates to identify their priorities by making service to people as a mission of life.



C.K. Muhammad Najeeb, patron of Gulf Madhyamam-Media One Group in Saudi Arabia, presided over the function and Jeddah Coordination Committee Chairman Umar Abubacker introduced the award winner to the audience.



Felicitation speeches were delivered by Abubacker Arimbra, general secretary of Kerala Muslim Cultural Center Jeddah central committee; K.M. Shareef Kunju, general secretary of Overseas Indian Cultural Congress global committee; V.K. Rauf, patron of Navodaya; P.P. Raheem, secretary of New Age; Prof. Reynolds, It toop of King Abdulaziz University and chairman of ‘Pravasi’ ad hoc committee; Sulfeekar Othai, president of Jeddah Indian Media Forum; and Muhammad Emran, media relations manager of Al-Abeer Medical Group.



Moosakkutty Vettikkattiri, bureau chief of Media One Jeddah, welcomed the gathering while C.K. Morayoor, reporter of Gulf Madhyaman, proposed the vote of thanks.



A. Moosa recited a few verses from the Qur’an. 



Padapparamb thanked Allah Almighty for bestowing him His immense blessings and ability to serve the fellow human beings who are suffering.



He shared several experiences of his humanitarian work with the audience. 



“I see humanitarian work as an obligation to God. I found only very few people who are courageous enough to accompany me in doing such jobs like washing and burial of dead bodies,” he said.



Padapparamb told Saudi Gazette that he has been actively involved in social work in Jeddah since 1990.

 

“Even though I did not join any organization, I am getting big support from all organizations and institutions, including various consulates and medical facilities like Al-Abeer Medical Group, Al-Ryan, Shifa Jeddah and Badar Al-Tamam polyclinics. I used to render services to ordinary expatriates single-handedly, seeking the reward from God,” he said.