History in Making: Battling Vasculitis, Sia Fatima to Compete Online at School Kalolsavam

Thrissur: The history of the Kerala school arts festival is being rewritten today, as the Education Department has made arrangements for a student, who is suffering from a serious health condition, to participate in the State School Arts Festival. Sia Fatima, a student of VKPKHMMRV HSS in Padannakkad, Kasargod, has been granted permission to compete online in the festival while battling a serious illness. She will be participating in the Arabic poster designing category.

Sia is suffering from vasculitis, a serious medical condition. Doctors have strictly advised that traveling in her condition could be life-threatening, making it impossible for her to attend the festival venue in Thrissur. In this situation, Sia and her teachers brought her case to the attention of Education minister V Sivankutty.

Minister Sivankutty stated that Sia’s determination to participate in the festival despite excruciating pain could not be ignored. As a humanitarian gesture, a special order was issued allowing her to fulfill her dream and participate in the competition online.