On a quiet February morning in 2009, a school picnic to the scenic Thattekkad bird sanctuary near the Periyar river, turned into a tragedy. A boat carrying 15 kids and their teacher capsized in the river, leaving no survivors. The tragedy shook Saji Valassery, a humble furniture shop owner, to his core. Haunted by the thought of the young lives lost, he began taking swimming classes in the very river that had taken them, for free.

Little did he know that this simple gesture would turn the sombre banks of the Periyar into a place filled with laughter, learning, and the warmth of community.

‘You only need 16 days to learn how to remove your fear of water’

It all started with a simple but powerful thought—Saji didn’t want to see another life lost to drowning. So he began small. He taught his own kids to swim, then their friends, then a few kids from around the neighbourhood. They learned to float, paddle, and stay calm in the river’s current.

Word spread. More kids came. Then adults. Slowly, the group grew. What began as a handful of kids splashing around turned into something much bigger.

Today, that small effort has become the ‘Valasseril River Swimming Club’. Over 10,000 people have learned to swim here. And in an incredible milestone, 2,000 children have been trained to swim across 780 metres of river—all in one go.

It’s not just about swimming. It’s about safety, courage, and a father’s quiet determination to make sure no one else has to lose someone to the water.

“The fear of water is the biggest problem. Most drowning cases reported here are of people boating close to the banks and not in the middle of the river,” says Saji. Muscles sore from old age or even the lack of two limbs have not stood in the way of the 60-year-old Saji, who has taught people of all ages, sizes, and abilities to conquer the water. 10 children with physical disabilities have been empowered to cross the river so far.

“You only need 16 days to learn how to remove your fear of water and save yourself from drowning,” he proclaims, introducing his carefully crafted swimming program that promises to teach anyone how to swim in just over two........

© The Better India