Roiled by hunger: How 'Kathal the Core' actress Shaniba Ali carved her success path

Advocate Shaniba Ali, who was the legal advisor of the Mammootty movie ‘Kaathal – The Core’, has an inspiring life story to tell. Born in a very poor family where she stayed hungry on many days, Shaniba overcame all odds to become a leading lawyer in the Kerala High Court. While growing up, Shaniba realized that children had self-esteem even when they were poor. She also learnt that one should respect the feelings of children and it is this message that she tries to spread these days.

“When the feelings of children are hurt, injuries they suffer persist forever. Only when you respect the self-esteem of children will they, as adults, respect others,” says Shaniba.

Shaniba best understands childhood trauma. "Many equate poverty solely with a lack of food, clothing, or shelter. But for me, poverty is the devaluation of your self-respect," Shaniba explains.
“From my own experience, I realized that everyone considers a poor person as worthless,” she adds.

As a child, Shaniba lived with her parents and a sister at Kuttikkattoor in Kozhikode. Her father suffered from several diseases and could not work, forcing her mother to earn a living for the family by becoming a domestic help in nearby houses. Shaniba and her sister also attended school regularly as free midday meals were provided there. “We were excited to go to school because the free lunch was a big solace and we also found studies interesting,” says Shaniba.

Even amid all the poverty, Shaniba and her sister studied hard. They managed with old textbooks, notebooks and uniforms of children in the neighbourhood. “I grew up watching my mother working in the kitchen of some nearby house. We didn’t have a safe house or good clothes. While other children in the neighbourhood cried for fancy items or toys, we pleaded for an instrument box and books. But our mother couldn’t afford these items,” says Shaniba.

The only luxury that the siblings enjoyed was a fried egg. “Even that dish was served to us only once in two or three months. When our mother prepared the dish, we stood eagerly beside her,” says Shaniba.
“At that time, I was a plumb and fair child. But nobody appreciated my cuteness or bought me even a toffee. It was with the stipend I received while studying LLB that I bought a Dairy Milk chocolate for the first time,” she says.

She also suffered humiliation from neighbours when she went to their houses to watch television. “People used to ignore us when we went to their houses to watch TV. They avoided looking at us and sometimes even shut the door on our face,” recalls Shaniba.

“Society has no value for the poor. But these incidents strengthened my resolve to prove that a poor person too can have self-esteem,” she says.
Shaniba found it very hard to overcome such traumatic incidents in her childhood.

At the same time, the difficulties at home did not prevent Shaniba from excelling in studies or winning prizes in arts and sports events. Still, she could not take part in events which caused expenses. Shaniba regularly won the first prize in essay and elocution competitions, which earned her the highest points in school arts festivals. However, the title of ‘Kalathilakam’ was denied to her. When a young Shaniba asked her teacher about it, he replied that the title is awarded only to the student who competes in a dance event and earns points.

Shaniba could not dance as she couldn't meet expenses involved the. She also noticed the student’s parents and other relatives joining her on the stage to celebrate during the award ceremony. At that time, Shaniba’s parents were in no position to question the denial of the honour to her. However, Shaniba says that she is aware of her rights now. “Such experiences transformed me from a child who dreamed of basic things like tasty food into a person who inspires people to fight for their rights and supports them in these efforts,” says Shaniba.

After class 10, Shaniba decided to choose a course which did not involve much expense and conducted research for the purpose. As courses such as medicine needed a lot of money, she finally settled for law. “I wished to start earning as soon as possible, mainly to build a new house for our family. We lived in a dilapidated house and were ignored by neighbours. But such insults strengthened my resolve to build a good house and overcome the humiliation. That was my sole aim in life,” she says.

After plus-two (class 12), Shaniba attempted the LLB entrance exam and received admission to Kozhikode Law College. “My parents had strictly told me that I wouldn’t be allowed to study anywhere outside Kozhikode,” she says. From then onwards, Shaniba’s goal was to become financially independent.

On completing LLB, Shaniba received an opportunity to practice under a lawyer in the Kerala High Court with the help of a senior in college. Even though it was an internship, the lawyer paid her a monthly stipend of Rs 4,500. When the internship was over, Shaniba was appointed in her first job at a salary of Rs 6,500. Out of this amount, Shaniba paid Rs 3,500 for her accommodation in Kochi and managed all other expenses with the remaining amount.

“I struggled during the early days of my career. Often, I even skipped a meal during the first three-four months; but, I was still happy because I could study, had an income and knew that I could be financially independent,” says Shaniba.
Soon, Shaniba began receiving independent cases and her senior lawyer advised her to save for the future. “I began saving whatever I could from my small income and realized how important financial freedom is for young women,” she says.

Meanwhile, Shaniba launched an Instagram page and her followers praised her communication skills and confident way of speaking. At the age of 27, she also built a big house at the spot where the family’s ramshackle dwelling stood previously. “It was in that new house I slept peacefully for the first time,” says Shaniba.