20 Years of Dedication: The Math Teacher Who Swims to School

For two decades, a teacher in Kerala has been swimming across a river to get to his school. This unique commute allows Abdul Malik, a mathematics teacher, to reach the Muslim Lower Primary School in Malappuram. Instead of traveling 12 kilometers by road, Malik swims. This routine has been consistent since 1994. He packs his belongings, including books and clothes, in a plastic bag tied to a tire tube, and swims across the river. His commitment extends beyond the classroom as he leads cleaning drives with his students. His students fondly call him “Tube Master” and he also teaches swimming to students above the fifth grade.