Kanjirappally: Sheeba Babu is not just the Literacy Prerak for the panchayat but also embodies the spirit of literacy within her own home. Sheeba, who has helped over a hundred people clear their class ten exams, has mirrored that dedication in her family too.

With her guidance and support, her husband and children have all achieved postgraduate degrees. Sheeba, the nodal literacy prerak of Parathodu panchayat, leads a family of three children and her husband, collectively holding seven postgraduate degrees.

Sheeba, a member of the Kurumullil family in Thamabalakkadu, married K S Babu of Navagraha House in Kalluvelil in 1995. Babu, a graduate in economics and a postgraduate in history, was born with polio, leaving his right hand paralysed and his left leg affected. His life took a positive turn once Sheeba became his partner. With her encouragement, Babu prepared for PSC exams and secured a position in the Rural Development Department in 1997. Sheeba, a B Com graduate, became the literacy prerak of Kanjirappally block in 2003.

She enrolled her elder daughter, Devalakshmi, a B Sc graduate and her second daughter, Radhika, a B Com. graduate, for PSC training. They were also enrolled for MA courses through the Indira Gandhi National Open University, along with Babu. Sheeba supported her husband and children by preparing notes and tutoring them, often at the expense of her own sleep. Father and children appeared for their exams in the same classroom.

All three secured postgraduate degrees in Sociology in 2022 and Politics in 2025 from IGNOU. Babu, who retired as Senior Superintendent from the Rural Development Department, completed his MA in Politics at the age of 58 and is now preparing for an MA in Gandhian Studies.

Devalakshmi works as a clerk at the Pala Munsif Court, while Radhika serves as an ASM at Pala Supplyco and is ranked 71 in the LDC rank list. Younger son Suryaprathap is a second-year student in Cybersecurity Engineering.

Devalakshmi’s husband, Gokul Krishan, is a teacher at Malayalapuzha SNDP UP School. Babu and Sheeba say that their inspiration comes from Sree Narayana Guru’s philosophy: ‘Get enlightened through knowledge.’