Vinodini came with a bouquet for the Chief Minister

On a day when thousands thronged the Central Stadium to witness VD Satheesan being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala and all cameras were focused on the row of VVIPs on the dais, one of the quiet moments of the day belonged to Vinodini, a nine-year-old boy from Pallassana in Palakkad district who shares a special bond with Mr Satheesan.

Vinodini came with her mother Praseeda to attend the ceremony and greeted the new chief minister with a bouquet of flowers in her arms, one of which was a prosthetic arm. The story behind it saddened every Keralite.

Last September, Vinodini broke her right arm in a fall while playing. She was taken to Palakkad District Hospital, where her arm was put in plaster. But the hand became infected, allegedly due to an improperly applied plaster, after which her hand had to be amputated. Her parents, who are day laborers, could not afford her follow-up treatment. Even after several months, the health department was unable to reach the family offering rehabilitation.

Vinodini fell into depression, refusing to go to school because she no longer had the right arm to write and draw. Mr. Satheesan, who happened to see television footage of a lonely little girl spending days between four walls, took immediate action. He reached out to the family, made all arrangements for the young girl to be taken to a private hospital in Kochi, and was fitted with a prosthetic arm by February.

Vinodini started smiling and painting again – her favorite pastime – and soon returned to school as well. Her family has always expressed their eternal gratitude to Mr. Satheesan as they have stopped believing that politicians ever fulfill their promises.

On Monday, Vinodini came and carried flowers for Mr. Satheesan, who stood up for her while the state did not. It was a touching moment captured well by television channels as she extended her hands and offered a bouquet to the Chief Minister.

Published – 18 May 2026 21:43 IST