A 105-year-old man from Kerala, M. A. Abdullah Moulavi Bafaqi, has become a symbol of digital literacy, proving that age is no barrier to learning. Hailing from Asamannoor in the Ernakulam district, Moulavi is among the eldest of over 2.1 million people in Kerala who have been declared "digitally literate" as part of the state's ongoing "Digi Keralam" campaign. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and empower those who may struggle with modern technology like smartphones.
Moulavi's journey into the digital world began during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a regular newspaper reader, he missed his daily routine when newspaper deliveries were disrupted during the lockdown. His granddaughter introduced him to watching news on YouTube, sparking his interest in smartphones. Despite being nearly blind in one eye, having difficulty walking, and suffering from kidney-related ailments, his curiosity and determination remained strong.
Recognizing his resolve, Jaya, a literacy educator ("prerak") from the local panchayat, dedicated time to teaching him the basics of smartphone usage as part of the "Digi Keralam" campaign. Moulavi proved to be a quick learner, mastering the three-part module with enthusiasm. He learned to use apps like Google Search and YouTube and to make video calls. He particularly enjoyed video-calling his granddaughter, who lives in Sharjah.
Kerala's Minister for Local Self-Government, M. B. Rajesh, visited Moulavi at his home to congratulate him on his achievement. The minister gifted him a brand-new Samsung smartphone, which delighted Moulavi, who demonstrated his ability to log into apps like YouTube and make video calls. Previously, Moulavi had been using a basic keypad phone and relying on his son and grandchildren's smartphones.
Moulavi's son, Faisal Ali, noted that his father had served as a religious teacher for 35 years and had also been an imam. Now, he finds immense joy in listening to religious programs on YouTube. He has become skilled at searching YouTube, occasionally uses Facebook, and can handle WhatsApp video calls from his great-granddaughter.
The "Digi Keralam" program, launched by the state government, has trained over 2.1 million Keralites and aims to make Kerala a fully digitally literate state. The program focuses on imparting digital literacy to people between the ages of 14 and 65, but has seen participation from many outside this age range. Volunteers, including students and members of the Kudumbashree women empowerment program, have played a vital role in implementing the initiative.
Kerala is set to be declared a fully digitally literate state on August 21, with a digital literacy rate of 99.99 percent. This achievement builds on Kerala's history of prioritizing literacy, having been declared a totally literate state in 1991. The success of the "Digi Keralam" program demonstrates the state's commitment to bridging the digital divide and empowering its citizens with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age.
Moulavi's story is particularly inspiring, showing that age and physical limitations are not insurmountable barriers to learning and embracing technology. His determination to learn and his ability to master new digital skills serve as an inspiration to people of all ages.
