Mini serves food with a pinch of love at the thattukada gifted by Ashraf charitable organisation

Kottakkal: Mini Rajan, who has tasted bitterness in life many a times is a symbol of resolve and grit. Born and raised as an orphan, Mini faced extreme poverty and illnesses throughout her life. This 47-year-old woman did many odd jobs to support herself even when her loved ones left her.

She struggled hard to make ends meet when she was diagnosed with a serious illness. When life kept throwing curveballs at her, a few Ashrafs appeared in front of her as God’s messengers. Now, Mini runs a thattukada (wayside eatery) set up by the Ashraf charitable organisation.

Ashraf charitable organisation offered to help as they learned about the plight of Mini and her daughter, a nursing student, who live in rented quarters in Kottapadi. The pothichor (meal packet) prepared at home is brought to the eatery at Parappoor Road junction and sold here.

Mini grew up in an orphanage in Iritty, Kannur until she was a teenager. Although a lady doctor had adopted her, Mini was pushed back into being an orphan when the former got transferred to another place. She enrolled for the nursing course at a private hospital in Kozhikode with the help of a few people.

However, she dropped out after she got married. Mini then lived in Kozhichena with her husband who hailed from Malappuram. He abandoned Mini and three kids 22 years ago. There isn’t a job that she hasn’t done in all these years to raise her kids. She became a stone mason, did tarring on roads, worked on construction sites and even did painting works. 

Meanwhile, the older sons left their mother and younger sister. Mini had to pay ₹1 lakh for a surgery done at a private hospital for an illness. She sold her gold ornaments to pay the bill; besides, an autorickshaw driver in the town too helped her.

Now, Mini is able to earn a decent living through the thattukada gifted by the Ashraf organisation. Mini’s only wish is to help her daughter complete her nursing course.