Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

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Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Balyakalasakhi
  • Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu
  • Pathummayude Aadu
    • Notable awards
    (1993)
    Spouse
    Fathima Basheer (Fabi)
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1956)​
    Children2
    Signature
    In this
    Janmadinam and Anargha Nimisham and the translations of his works into other languages have earned him worldwide acclaim. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honor of the Padma Shri in 1982. He was also a recipient of the Sahitya Academy Fellowship, Kerala Sahitya Academy Fellowship, and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Story. He was a recipient of the Vallathol Award
    in 1993.

    Biography

    Basheer was born on January 19 or January 21, 1908

    Khādī, inspired by the swadeshi ideals of Gandhi.[6] Basheer would later write about his experiences on how he managed to climb on to the car in which Gandhi was traveling and touched his hand.[4]

    Freedom struggle involvement

    He resolved to join the fight for an Indian Independence, leaving school to do so while he was in the fifth form.

    Gandhi-Irwin pact. Once free, he organized an anti-British movement and edited a revolutionary journal, Ujjivanam, because of which an arrest warrant was issued on him and he left Kerala.[8]

    Journey

    Having left Kerala, he embarked upon a long journey that took him across the length and breadth of India and to many places in Asia and Africa for seven years, doing whatever work that seemed likely to keep him from starvation.

    Ganges basin, following their customs and practices, for more than five years. There were times when, with no water to drink, without any food to eat, he came face to face with death.[4]

    After doing menial jobs in cities such as

    Trivandrum in those days.[12]

    Imprisonment and after

    At

    Balyakalasakhi. He wrote Premalekhanam (1943) while serving his term and published it on his release. Baalyakaalasakhi was published in 1944 after further revisions, with an introduction by Paul.[13] M. K. Sanu, critic and a friend of Basheer, would later say that M. P. Paul's introduction contributed significantly in developing his writing career.[14] He then made a career as a writer, initially publishing the works himself and carrying them to homes to sell them. He ran two bookstalls in Ernakulam; Circle Bookhouse and later, Basheer's Bookstall. After Indian independence, he showed no further interest in active politics, though concerns over morality and political integrity are present all over his works.[4]

    Basheer got married in 1958 when he was over forty eight years old and the bride, Fathima was twenty years of age.[15] The couple had a son, Anees and a daughter, Shahina, and the family lived in Beypore, on the southern edge of Kozhikode.[16] During this period he also suffered from mental illness and was twice admitted to mental sanatoriums.[17] He wrote one of his most famous works, Pathummayude Aadu (Pathumma's Goat), while undergoing treatment in a mental hospital in Thrissur. The second spell of paranoia occurred in 1962, after his marriage when he had settled down at Beypore. He recovered both times, and continued his writings.[18]

    Basheer, who earned the sobriquet, Beypore Sultan, after he wrote about his later-day life in Beypore as a Sultan,[8] died there on July 5, 1994, survived by his wife and children.[17] Fabi Basheer outlived him for over two decades and died on July 15, 2015, at the age of 77, succumbing to complications following a pneumonia attack.[15]

    Legacy

    A handwritten letter by Basheer displayed at an exhibition conducted by Kerala Sahitya Akademi

    Language

    Basheer is known for his unconventional style of language.[19] He did not differentiate between literary language and the language spoken by the commons[20] and did not care about the grammatical correctness of his sentences. Initially, even his publishers were unappreciative of the beauty of this language; they edited out or modified conversations. Basheer was outraged to find his original writings transcribed into "standardised" Malayalam, devoid of freshness and natural flow, and he forced them to publish the original one instead of the edited one. Basheer's brother Abdul Khader was a Malayalam teacher. Once while reading one of the stories, he asked Basheer, "where are aakhyas and aakhyathas (elements of Malayalam grammar) in this...?". Basheer shouted at him saying that "I am writing in normal Malayalam, how people speak. And you don't try to find your stupid 'aakhya and aakhyaada' in this!". This points out to the writing style of Basheer, without taking care of any grammar, but only in his own village language. Though he made funny remarks regarding his lack of knowledge in Malayalam, he had a very thorough knowledge of it.

    Basheer's contempt for grammatical correctness is exemplified by his statement Ninte Lodukkoos Aakhyaadam! ("Your 'silly stupid' grammar!") to his brother, who sermonises him about the importance of grammar (Pathummayude Aadu).[21]

    Themes

    Basheer's fictional characters were mostly marginalised people like gamblers, thieves, pickpockets and prostitutes, and they appeared in his works, naive and pure.

    Malayalis view love. The major theme of all Basheer stories is love and humanity. In the story Mucheettukalikkarante Makal (The Card sharp's Daughter), when Sainaba comes out of the water after stealing his bananas, Mandan Muthappa says only one thing: "Sainaba go home and dry your hair else you may fall sick". This fine thread of humanism can be experienced in almost all his stories.[22]

    About the influence of Western literature in his works, Basheer once wrote: "I can readily say that I have not been influenced by any literature, Western or Eastern, for, when I started writing I had no idea of literature. Even now it is not much different. It is only after I had written quite a bit, that I had opportunities to contact Western literature. I read all that I could get hold of—Somerset Maugham, Steinbeck, Maupassant, Flaubert, Romain Rolland, Gorky, Chekhov, Hemingway, Pearl S. Buck, Shakespeare, Galsworthy, Shaw... In fact, I organised one or two bookstalls so that I could get more books to read. But I read these books mainly to know their craft. I myself had plenty of experience to write about! I have even now! I am unable to ascertain who has influenced me. Perhaps Romain Rolland and Steinbeck—but even they, not much."[23]

    Works

    Cover page of Balyakalasakhi
    A sculpture of Basheer's Pathummayude Aadu at Mananchira, Kozhikode

    Almost all of Basheer's writing can be seen as falling under the heading of prose fiction – short stories and novels, though there is also a one-act play and volumes of essays and reminiscences. Basheer's fiction is very varied and full of contrasts. There are poignant situations as well as merrier ones – and commonly both in the same narrative. There are among his output realistic stories and tales of the supernatural. There are purely narrative pieces and others which have the quality of poems in prose. In all, a superficially simple style conceals a great subtlety of expression. His works have been translated into 18 languages.[8]

    His literary career started off with the novel

    Sheela.[25]

    Balyakalasakhi – a tragic love story between Majeed and Suhra – which is among the most important novels in Malayalam literature[26] in spite of its relatively small size (75 pages), and is commonly agreed upon as his magnum opus work.[27] In his foreword to Balyakalasakhi, Jeevithathil Ninnum Oru Aedu (A Page From Life), M. P. Paul brings out the beauty of this novel, and how it is different from run-of-the-mill love stories. The novel was later adapted into a film by Sasikumar, under the same name.[28] It was again remade with the same title in 2014, by Pramod Payyannur,[29] with Mammootty and Isha Talwar playing the lead.[30]

    The autobiographical

    Janmadinam ("Birthday", 1945) is about a writer struggling to feed himself on his birthday.[31] While many of the stories present situations to which the average reader can easily relate, the darker, seamier side of human existence also finds a major place, as in the novel Shabdangal ("Voices", 1947),[32] which faced heavy criticism for violence and vulgarity.[33]

    Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu ("My Gran'dad 'ad an Elephant", 1951) is a fierce attack on the superstitious practices that existed among Muslims. Its protagonist is Kunjupathumma, a naive, innocent and illiterate village belle. She falls in love with an educated, progressive, city-bred man, Nisaar Ahamed. Illiteracy is fertile soil for superstitions, and the novel is about education enlightening people and making them shed age-old conventions. Velichathinentoru Velicham (a crude translation can be "What a bright brightness!") one of the most quoted Basheer phrases occurs in Ntuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnu. People boast of the glory of days past, their "grandfather's elephants", but that is just a ploy to hide their shortcomings. The book was later translated into English by R. E. Asher.[34]

    His next novel was Pathummayude Aadu, an autobiographical work published in 1959, featuring mostly his family members.[35] The book tells the story of everyday life in a Muslim family.[36] Mathilukal (Walls) deals with prison life in the pre-independence days. It is a novel of sad irony set against a turbulent political backdrop. The novelist falls in love with a woman sentenced for life who is separated from him by insurmountable walls. They exchange love-promises standing on two sides of a wall, only to be separated without even being able to say good-bye. Before he "met" Naraayani, the loneliness and restrictions of prison life was killing Basheer; but when the orders for his release arrive he loudly protests, "Who needs freedom? Outside is an even bigger jail." The novel was later made into a film with same name by Adoor Gopalakrishnan with Mammootty playing Basheer.[37]

    Sthalathe Pradhana Divyan, Anavariyum Ponkurishum, Mucheettukalikkarante Makal and Ettukali Mammoonju featured the life of real life characters in his native village of Thalayolaparambu (regarded as Sthalam in these works). Perch, a Chennai based theatre, has adapted portions from Premalekhanam and Mucheettukalikkarante Makal as a drama under the title, The Moonshine and the Sky Toffee.[38]

    Trivia

    New application on Basheer named Basheer Malayalathinte Sultan is now available as an iPad application which includes eBooks of all the works of the author, animation of his prominent works like Pathumayude Aadu, Aanapuda, audio book, special dictionaries encloses words used by Basheer, sketches of characters made by renowned artistes and rare photos among others.[39] Fabi Basheer published his memoirs, Basheerinte Ediye,[40] which details her life with her husband.[41]

    Awards and honours

    Vallathol Award.[49][50] The Thamrapathra'of the Government of India (1972), Abu Dhabi Malayala Samajam Literary Award (1982), Samskaradeepam Award (1987) and Jeddah Arangu Award (1994) were some of the other awards received by him.[21] Mathrubhumi issued a festschrift on him, Ormmayile Basheer (Basheer - Reminiscences) in 2003 which featured several articles and photos[51] and the India Post released a commemorative postage stamp, depicting his image, on January 21, 2009.[52][53]

    Published works

    Novels

    Excerpts from the story Amma (The Mother)[54]

    I said nothing. I was shaken, unable to breathe. The whole world was asleep! My mother alone was awake! Mother brought a vessel of water and asked me to wash my hands and feet. Then she placed a plate of rice before me.

    She asked me nothing.

    I was amazed. “How did you know, Umma, that I was coming today?”

    Mother replied, “Oh... I cook rice and wait every night.”

    It was a simple statement. Every night I did not turn up, but mother had kept awake waiting for me.

    The years have passed. Many things have happened.

    But mothers still wait for their sons.

    “Son, I just want to see you...”

    # Title Translation in English Year of Publishing
    1 Premalekhanam The Love Letter 1943
    2
    Balyakalasakhi
    		 Childhood Companion 1944
    3 Shabdangal The Voices 1947
    4 Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu My Grandad Had an Elephant 1951
    5 Maranathinte Nizhalil In the Shadow of Death 1951
    6 Mucheettukalikkarante Makal The Card Sharper's Daughter 1951
    7 Sthalathe Pradhana Divyan The Principal Divine of the Place 1953
    8 Anavariyum Ponkurishum Elephant Scooper and Golden Cross 1953
    9 Jeevithanizhalppadukal The Shadows of Life 1954
    10 Pathummayude Aadu Paththumma's Goat 1959
    11 Mathilukal Walls 1965
    12 Thara Specials 1968
    13 Manthrikappoocha The Magic Cat 1968
    14 Prempatta The Loving Cockroach (Published posthumously) 2006

    Short stories

    Basheer - a caricature
    Abubakar -Basheer's brother
    # 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 Pavappettavarude Veshya The Prostitute of the Poor 1952
    6 Vishwavikhyathamaya Mookku The World-renowned Nose 1954
    7 Visappu The Hunger 1954
    8 Oru Bhagavad Gitayum Kure Mulakalum A Bhagavadgeetha and Some Breasts 1967
    9 Anappooda Elephant-hair 1975
    10 Chirikkunna Marappava The Laughing Wooden Doll 1975
    11 Bhoomiyude Avakashikal The Inheritors of the Earth 1977
    12 Shinkidimunkan The Fools' God Man 1991
    13 Sarpayajnam The Snake Ritual

    Others

    # Title Translation in English Year of Publishing Notes
    1 Dharmarajyam 1938 Essays
    2 Kathabeejam Story Seed 1945 Play
    3 Nerum Nunayum Truth and Lie 1969 Commentary and letters
    4 Ormayude Arakal The Cells of Memory 1973 Commentary and memoirs
    5 Anuragathinte Dinangal The Days of Desire 1983 Diary
    6 Bhargavi Nilayam Bhargavi's Mansion 1985 Screenplay; adapted from the short story "Neelavelicham"
    7 M. P. Paul 1991 Reminiscences of his friendship with M. P. Paul
    8 Cheviyorkkuka! Anthimakahalam Hark! The Final Clarion-call!! 1992 Speech
    9 Yaa Ilaahi! Oh God! 1997 Collection of stories, essays, letters and poem; Published posthumously
    10 Jeevitham Oru Anugraham Life is a Blessing 2000 Collection of stories, essays and play; Published posthumously
    11 Basheerinte Kathukal Basheer's Letters 2008 Letters; Published posthumously

    Filmography

    # Year Title Contribution
    1 1964 Bhargavi Nilayam Story, screenplay, dialogues
    2 1967 Balyakalasakhi Story, screenplay, dialogues
    3 1975 Mucheettukalikkaarante Makkal Story
    4 1985 Premalekhanam Story
    5 1988 Dhwani Acting
    6 1990 Mathilukal Story
    7 1995 Sasinas Story
    8 2013
    Kathaveedu
    		 Story
    9 2014 Balyakalasakhi Story
    10 2017 Basheerinte Premalekhanam Story
    11 2023 Neelavelicham Story, screenplay, dialogues

    References

    1. ^ V. B. C. Nair (1976). "(Malayalam - പൂര്‍ണ്ണത തേടുന്ന അപൂര്‍ണ്ണ ബിന്ദുക്കള്‍) [Poornatha Thedunna Apoornna Bindukkal]". Malayalanadu (in Malayalam).
    2. ^ "Basheer Smaraka Trust". www.basheersmarakatrust.com. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
    3. ISBN 978-81-7130-503-2
      . Retrieved 24 January 2023.
    4. ^ a b c d "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
    5. ^ "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer - profile on Kerala Culture". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
    6. ^ a b Reddiar, Mahesh (19 March 2010). "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer - Biography". PhilaIndia.info. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    7. ^ "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Veethi profile". veethi.com. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    8. ^ a b c d e "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer: When brevity becomes soul of wit". The Week. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    9. ^ a b Kakanadan (8 March 2008). "Vaikom Mohammed Basheer is the true inheritor of the earth". The Economic Times. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    10. ^ Madhubālā Sinhā (2009). Encyclopaedia of South Indian literature, Volume 3. Anmol Publications. p. 240.
    11. ^ M. N. Vijayan (1996). M. N. Vijayan (ed.). Basheer fictions. Katha. p. 21.
    12. ^ Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1954). "Foreword". Vushappu (Hunger). Current Books. It is years since I have started writing stories. When did I start? I think it was from 1937. I have been living in Ernakulam since then. I was a writer by profession. I wrote a great deal. I would get my writing published in newspapers and journals. No one paid me for it. The stories were published between 1937 and 1941 in Navajeevan, a weekly published in Trivandrum in those days.
    13. ISBN 978-0-520-01725-2
      .
    14. ^ "Remembering a visionary - Times of India". The Times of India. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    15. ^ a b Charmy Harikrishnan (15 July 2015). "Malayalam literature's first lady Fabi Basheer passes away". India Today. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    16. ^ Musthari, Jabir (16 July 2015). "Basheer's widow breathes her last". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    17. ^ a b "കരിങ്കല്ലിൽ തീർത്ത മതിലുകൾ". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    18. ^ "Basheer's Insanity". archives.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    19. JSTOR 23344259
      .
    20. ^ "Basheer explained complex things in common man'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    21. ^ a b c "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Special - Mathrubhumi Books". archives.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    22. ^ "Quran, karma and a gnostic god". Times of India Blog. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    23. ^ K.M.George (1972). Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 112.
    24. ^ "Premalekhanam [1985]". malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    25. ^ "Joy Mathew and Sheela in Basheerinte Premalekhanam - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    26. ^ "ഏറ്റവും മഹത്തായ പ്രണയം ഏതായിരിക്കും?". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    27. ^ "സാഹിത്യ സുല്‍ത്താനെ ഓര്‍മ്മിക്കുമ്പോള്‍". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    28. ^ "Baalyakaalasakhi (1967)". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    29. ^ Anima, P. (31 May 2013). "Translating Basheer to the screen". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    30. ^ Naliyath, Sunil (6 February 2014). "Poetry on reel". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    31. ^ "മനസ്സിരുത്തി വായിക്കണം ബഷീറിന്റെ ഈ കഥ". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    32. ISBN 978-81-250-0323-6
      .
    33. ISBN 978-1-4438-5743-7
      .
    34. ^ "Great Keralites". www.ourkeralam.com. 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
    35. ^ "മാന്ത്രിക ബഷീർ". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    36. ISBN 978-81-250-0323-6
      .
    37. ^ "Mathilukal (1990)". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    38. ^ "ബേപ്പൂർ സുൽത്താന് ആദരമായി 'നിലാവും ആകാശമിട്ടായി'യും വീണ്ടും അരങ്ങത്തേക്ക്". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    39. ^ "Basheer Malayalathinte Sultan for iPad". Download.com. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    40. ^ Basheer, Fabi (2011). Basheerinte ediye / (in Malayalam).
    41. ^ "Fabi Basheer is dead - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    42. ^ "Sahitya Akademi: Fellows and Honorary Fellows". sahitya-akademi.gov.in. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    43. ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    44. ^ "Padma Awards Directory (1954-2017)" (PDF). 30 March 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    45. ^ "Former Honorary Degree Recipients" (PDF). University of Calicut. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
    46. ^ "State Film Awards 1969 – 2011". Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
    47. ^ "Lalithambika Antharjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    48. ^ "മുട്ടത്ത്‌വര്‍ക്കി പുരസ്‌കാരം" [Muttathu Varkey Award]. Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 17 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
    49. ^ "വള്ളത്തോള്‍ പുരസ്‌കാരം" [Vallathol Award]. Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 17 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
    50. ^ "Winners of Vallathol Literary Awards". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    51. ^ "Ormmayile Basheer". archives.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    52. ^ "Commemorative and definitive stamps". postagestamps.gov.in. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    53. ^ "WNS: IN002.09 (Vaikom Muhhammad Busheer)". Universal Postal Union. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    54. ^ "Basheer and the freedom struggle". frontline.thehindu.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.

    Further reading

    External links

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