Thiruvananthapuram: S. Dhanuja Kumari, a dedicated worker of the Haritha Karma Sena, earns her living by collecting domestic waste. Her inspiring life story has been written down in a book and is now used as a teaching resource for BA students of Kannur University and MA students of Calicut University.

Born and brought up in Rajaji Nagar (formerly Chengalchoola), Dhanuja Kumari has penned down her experiences in a book titled Chengal Choolayile Ente Jeevitham (My Life in Chengal Choola). What began as personal notes evolved into a book that now serves as an important educational text. Even after dropping out of school at a young age, Dhanuja Kumari was encouraged to start writing by author Vijila.

“When the Secretariat was being built, Chengal Choola was a meeting place for the construction workers. We were stigmatised because the men from Chengal Choola were troublemakers. Schools were reluctant to admit students from our settlement. But today, educated youth are the strength of Chengal Choola. Our community is now known for its lovely people,” she said.

In her book, Dhanuja also narrates the challenges her son Nidheesh faced while studying Chenda at Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University. He faced severe caste discrimination on campus. He was derogatorily called a ‘cherikkaran’ (backward settler), which forced him to quit his studies early. Though he returned to the campus with the encouragement of former minister K. Radhakrishnan, he could not complete his education.

Dhanuja is currently working on a second volume of her book, which will cover the history of Rajaji Nagar. She also plans to compile a comprehensive database of the 7,000 residents in 1,200 households in the area. As secretary of Wings of Women, a women’s collective in Chengal Choola, Dhanuja has spearheaded the opening of a library, further enriching her community.