talent-kerala.net

When a Malayali dies in UAE, one of the first persons to be informed is Ashraf Palorakkunnummel of Thamarassery, Kozhikode.  He then takes leave of his business and  family and drives his car to  the hospital where the body is lying.  Only after making all arrangements to send the body to homeland, does he become available to his family and business.

During his 16 years of expatriate life, Ashraf has been instrumental in sending 1500 dead bodies belonging to 38 countries for the last rites in home soil.  Among these are Indians and those from other countries. Now, during some months, up to 35 dead bodies are sent in this manner.  And even in  the case of victims of fraud and patients, he takes efforts to send them home.

Ashraf came to bear the burden of the dead brethren after witnessing the sorrow and helplessness of a father whose children had died in a fire accident in Sharja.  Over the years, the authorities have come to recognize his efforts and that makes the formalities and paperwork relatively easy.

Not only the foreign authorities, but his own people have come to recognize the good works of Ashraf.  His life story has been authored by Basheer Tikkodi as ‘Paretharkku Oral’.

And this year, he was awarded Pravasi Bharateeya Puraskar.

Fathimath Suhara is his wife.  His children are Shafi, Shibana and Amir.

Courtesy: P.P. Sreedharan (text), Mathrubhumi, January 9, 2015

"The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living."