The Children's Plea That Moved Kerala to Tears

“I want to see my father, sir... Please remove the cloth covering his face.” R. Rajesh’s children’s heartbreaking cries brought tears to the eyes of those who gathered on Saturday to pay their last respects to the Kerala flood rescue volunteer. Rajesh, 36, died while trying to save a farmer from the dangerous floodwaters of the Kariangode River in Kannur.

Rajesh’s body was brought home to the village of Kalliyoor, near Thiruvananthapuram, yesterday. His two children, Abhishek and Arshan, both in class 9 and class 8, respectively, hugged the coffin and sobbed as relatives, friends, and those who had deployed the rescue efforts tried to console the boys. Many people visited the residence to pay their last respects to a man whom many in the village saw as an ever-ready helper.

Rajesh lost his life on August 1 while searching for him in Meenthulli Thuruthu in Cherupuzha, Kannur. It happened after heavy rain and landslides had brought water down from the Kariangode River and left a farmer named Benny stranded on an island at the bottom of the river. Rajesh, a swimming and rescue instructor, helped rescuers Shibin and Jithin reach Benny.

The rescue teams had gotten to Benny, but sadly, while returning to the safety of the shore, Rajesh, in a selfless act, gave Benny his life jacket. Without it, Rajesh was not safe in the current. He lost his hold on the safety rope, and the current swept him away before anyone could rescue him.

Search efforts for Rajesh had been going on for many days. His body was found on August 4, some 10 kilometres downstream, on a small island. Rajesh's death shocked his family and friends, as well as those who had worked with him on previous rescue missions. For many, it was still too much to imagine that he had spent years helping others and had lost his life on another rescue mission.

Rajesh was no stranger to disaster rescue. He had volunteered in the floods in Kerala in 2018 and participated in the rescue efforts during the 2024 Wayanad landslides. When the latest flood struck, he returned to assist. He was the president of the Adventure and Disaster Management Club, known as ADAMS, and a swimming and rappelling instructor. He was also a national-level throwball player. He was well known for his skills, confidence, and willingness to help others in danger.

The neighbours, who knew Rajesh personally, said he was always there to help people in his village even when he was in financial difficulty. Lali D, a neighbour, described him as an individual who helped anyone who needed help. She said he trained and gave advice on swimming and adventure games. Lali added that many people only discovered his rescue work after he passed away. For the family members who knew Rajesh personally, he was not a rescue volunteer. He was a friend who stood by whoever needed help.

Already, his family was going through a difficult time. His parents, Shekharan and Geetha, his wife Shafiya, and two children had lost their father. They had a house still to be built as part of the Life Mission project. The state government has decided to finish building the house as a gesture of gratitude for his sacrifice. It is to be in the name of his family that he left behind and for the service he rendered to others.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan was in Rajesh’s village on the morning of his funeral. He was moved by the children’s grief and apparently left the house in tears. Other cabinet ministers, elected officials, officials, rescue workers, and hundreds of people turned out to pay tribute to Rajesh. His funeral was conducted with state honours in honour of his service.

But for Rajesh’s family, the awards cannot replace their father or husband. His children merely wanted to see their father one last time. Their simple request captured the human side of the tragedy that made a rescue volunteer a hero. Behind the public accolades for Rajesh was a family struggling to understand why their dad would never return.

Rajesh died saving a stranger from the floods. Sadly, he could not be saved himself. His story is a tragedy, but it also shows that Rajesh continually saved people in bad conditions and was out to help. His selflessness and kindness are a testament to him and will help those who lost loved ones remember him. He sacrificed his life vest, which shows the risk rescuers take to save others.

The story of his selflessness should show us that more of us should be like Rajesh in our selfless acts. His sacrifice has also left a message that behind every rescue mission, there is a person in danger, and many families wait at home. For his children, his greatest legacy will simply be the father they loved.

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