Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (21 January 1908 – 5 July 1994)[1] was a
Malayalam fiction writer. He was a humanist, freedom fighter, novelist
and short story writer. He is noted for the pathbreaking, disarmingly
down-to-earth style of writing that won both literary critics as well as
the common man. He is regarded as India's one of the most successful
and outstanding writers.[2] Translations of many of his works into other
languages has won him worldwide acclaim.[2] His notable works include
Baalyakaalasakhi, Shabdangal, Paaththummaayude Aadu, Mathilukal,
Ntuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnu and Anarga Nimisham. He was awarded the
Padma Sri in 1982. He is fondly remembered as the Beypore Sultan.
Basheer,
born in the village of Thalayolapparampu in northern Travancore, was
the eldest child of devout Muslim parents. His father was in the timber
business as a contractor, but the business did not do well enough for
his large family to live in anything approaching luxury. After beginning
his education at the local Malayalam medium school, he was sent to the
English medium school in Vaikom, five miles away. While at school he
fell under the spell of Mahatma Gandhi. He started wearing Khadar,
inspired by the swadesi ideals. When Gandhi came to Vaikom to
participate in the Vaikom Satyagraham (1924) Basheer went to see him. He
managed to climb on to the car in which Gandhi travelled and touch his
hand, a fond memory Basheer later mentioned in many of his writings. He
used to visit Gandhi's Satyagraha Ashram at Vaikom daily. He got
punished for going late to school due to this.
Awards
- Padma Sri(1982)
- Kendra Sahitya Academy Fellowship
- Kerala Sahitya Academy Fellowship
- Kerala State Film Award for Best Story - Mathilukal (1989)[3]
- Lalithambika Antharjanam Award(1992)
- Muttathu Varkki Award (1993) (Paaththummaayude Aadu)
- Vallathol Award (1993)
- Kathaabeejam [Story Seed] (Play) (1945)
- Nerum Nunayum [Truth and Lie] (Commentary and letters) (1969)
- Ormmayudaey Arakal [The Cells of Memory] (Commentary and reminiscences) (1973)
- Anuraagaththintaey Dhinangal [The Days of Desire] (Diary; originally titled Kaamukantaey Diary [The Diary of the Paramour] and changed later on the suggestion of M. T. Vasudevan Nair) (1983)
- Bhargavi Nilayam [Bhargavi's Mansion] (Screenplay for a film (1964) by A. Vincent which is credited as the first horror cinema in Malayalam; adapted from the short story Neelavelichcham [The Blue Glow]) (1985)
- M. P. Paul (Reminiscences of his friendship with M. P. Paul) (1991)
- Cheviyorkkuka! Anthimakaahalam!! [Hark! The Final Clarion-call!!] (Speech) (1992)
- Basheerinte Kathukal [Basheer's Letters] (Letters) (2008; Published posthumously)
| #
|
Title
|
Translation in English
|
Year of Publishing
|
|---|
| 1
|
Premalekhanam |
The Love Letter |
1943
|
| 2
|
Baalyakaalasakhi |
Childhood Companion |
1944
|
| 3
|
Shabdangal |
The Voices |
1947
|
| 4
|
Ntuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnu |
My Grandad Had an Elephant |
1951
|
| 5
|
Maranaththinte Nizhalil |
In the Shadow of Death |
1951
|
| 6
|
Muchcheettukalikkaarante Makal |
The Daughter of the Cardshark |
1951
|
| 7
|
Sthalaththe Pradhaana Divyan |
The Principal Divine of the Place |
1953
|
| 8
|
Aanavaariyum Ponkurishum |
Elephant Scooper and Golden Cross |
1953
|
| 9
|
Jeevithanizhalppaadukal |
The Shadows of Life |
1954
|
| 10
|
Pathummayude Aadu |
Paaththumma's Goat |
1959
|
| 11
|
Mathilukal |
Walls |
1965
|
| 12
|
Thaaraa Specials |
|
1968
|
| 13
|
Maanthrikapoochcha |
The Magic Cat |
1968
|
| |
| 14
|
Prempatta |
The Loving Cockroach (Published posthumously) |
2006
|
|---|
| #
|
Title
|
Translation in English
|
Year of Publishing
|
| 1
|
Janmadinam |
The Birthday |
1945
|
| 2
|
Ormakkurippu |
Jottings from Memory |
1946
|
| 3
|
Anargha Nimisham |
Invaluable Moment (See Anal Haq) |
1946
|
| 4
|
Viddikalude Swargam |
Fools' Paradise |
1948
|
| 5
|
Paavappettavarudaey Vaeshya |
The Prostitute of the Poor |
1952
|
| 6
|
Vishwavikhkhyaathamaaya Mookku |
The World-renowned Nose |
1954
|
| 7
|
Vishappu |
The Hunger |
1954
|
| 8
|
Oru Bhagavadgeethayum Kuraey Mulakalum |
A Bhagavadgeetha and Some Breasts |
1967
|
| 9
|
Aanappooda |
Elephant-hair |
1975
|
| 10
|
Chirikkunna Marappaava |
The Laughing Wooden Doll |
1975
|
| 11
|
Bhoomiyudaey Avakaashikal |
The Inheritors of the Earth |
1977
|
| 12
|
Shinkidimunkan |
The Fools' God Man |
1991
|
| 13
|
Yaa Ilaahi! |
Oh God! (published posthumously) |
1997
|
| 14
|
Jeevitham Oru Anugraham |
Life is a Gift (published posthumously) |
2000
|
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