Ali Manikfan is one of the 102 celebrities who have been awarded the Padma Shri this year. He has created a success story without any education, which can inspire everyone.
Ali has studied only till 7th standard but is well versed in 14 languages. He worked in marine research in agriculture. At present, Ali is living in a rented house in the city of Olavana, Kerala. However, a major part of his life has been spent on Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep.
Obstacles during the school years
Ali says, ‘When I was 9 years old, my family members sent me to Kannur in Kerala to study. And I lived with all the relatives of my father who lived there. While there, he studied till the seventh grade, but then he returned to the island as it was becoming difficult for him to stay away from the island.
Ali bought books in Kolkata
Then in the year 1956, Ali went to Kolkata for 6 months. “During my stay in Kolkata, I got books on different subjects, so I was curious to know more about them. So when he returned from there, he brought with him many books in different languages to the island.
By reading these books I learned Arabic, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Latin, French, Russian, German, Sinhala, Persian, Sanskrit, Tamil, Urdu. He used to sit with people who knew the languages of the area. However, he may not be able to speak all languages, but knows how to read and write.
Started the search for fish on the island
While on the island, Ali did so much research on every species of fish on the island. As a result, in the year 1960, he joined the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMIRI) as a Lab Attendant. He also discovered a rare fish, which was named after me, Abudfud Manikfani. Ali Manikfan retired in 1980.
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Padma Shri awardee learned throughout his life
After many years his interest in agriculture grew and he started working in it. In Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, he turned 15 acres of barren land green with indigenous methods.
Ali worked in various fields such as marine biology, marine research, geography, astronomy, social sciences, traditional shipbuilding, fisheries, agriculture. When the first school opened on the island, he also worked there teaching children for a year. Now even at the age of 82, he has a habit of learning new things. So, this is the reason why Ali was given the Padma Shri award.
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