Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer | |
---|---|
Balyakalasakhi | |
Notable awards | (1993) |
Spouse |
Fathima Basheer (Fabi)
(m. 1956) |
Children | 2 |
Signature | |
Biography
Basheer was born on January 19 or January 21, 1908
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.
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.
After doing menial jobs in cities such as
Imprisonment and after
At
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
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.
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
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
The autobiographical
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
Published works
Novels
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
# | 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
- ^ V. B. C. Nair (1976). "(Malayalam - പൂര്ണ്ണത തേടുന്ന അപൂര്ണ്ണ ബിന്ദുക്കള്) [Poornatha Thedunna Apoornna Bindukkal]". Malayalanadu (in Malayalam).
- ^ "Basheer Smaraka Trust". www.basheersmarakatrust.com. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ISBN 978-81-7130-503-2. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer - profile on Kerala Culture". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ a b Reddiar, Mahesh (19 March 2010). "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer - Biography". PhilaIndia.info. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Veethi profile". veethi.com. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer: When brevity becomes soul of wit". The Week. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ a b Kakanadan (8 March 2008). "Vaikom Mohammed Basheer is the true inheritor of the earth". The Economic Times. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ Madhubālā Sinhā (2009). Encyclopaedia of South Indian literature, Volume 3. Anmol Publications. p. 240.
- ^ M. N. Vijayan (1996). M. N. Vijayan (ed.). Basheer fictions. Katha. p. 21.
- ^ 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.
- ISBN 978-0-520-01725-2.
- ^ "Remembering a visionary - Times of India". The Times of India. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ a b Charmy Harikrishnan (15 July 2015). "Malayalam literature's first lady Fabi Basheer passes away". India Today. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ Musthari, Jabir (16 July 2015). "Basheer's widow breathes her last". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ a b "കരിങ്കല്ലിൽ തീർത്ത മതിലുകൾ". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Basheer's Insanity". archives.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- JSTOR 23344259.
- ^ "Basheer explained complex things in common man'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ a b c "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Special - Mathrubhumi Books". archives.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Quran, karma and a gnostic god". Times of India Blog. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ K.M.George (1972). Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 112.
- ^ "Premalekhanam [1985]". malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Joy Mathew and Sheela in Basheerinte Premalekhanam - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "ഏറ്റവും മഹത്തായ പ്രണയം ഏതായിരിക്കും?". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "സാഹിത്യ സുല്ത്താനെ ഓര്മ്മിക്കുമ്പോള്". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Baalyakaalasakhi (1967)". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ Anima, P. (31 May 2013). "Translating Basheer to the screen". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ Naliyath, Sunil (6 February 2014). "Poetry on reel". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "മനസ്സിരുത്തി വായിക്കണം ബഷീറിന്റെ ഈ കഥ". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ISBN 978-81-250-0323-6.
- ISBN 978-1-4438-5743-7.
- ^ "Great Keralites". www.ourkeralam.com. 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "മാന്ത്രിക ബഷീർ". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ISBN 978-81-250-0323-6.
- ^ "Mathilukal (1990)". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "ബേപ്പൂർ സുൽത്താന് ആദരമായി 'നിലാവും ആകാശമിട്ടായി'യും വീണ്ടും അരങ്ങത്തേക്ക്". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Basheer Malayalathinte Sultan for iPad". Download.com. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ Basheer, Fabi (2011). Basheerinte ediye / (in Malayalam).
- ^ "Fabi Basheer is dead - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Sahitya Akademi: Fellows and Honorary Fellows". sahitya-akademi.gov.in. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Padma Awards Directory (1954-2017)" (PDF). 30 March 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Former Honorary Degree Recipients" (PDF). University of Calicut. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ "State Film Awards 1969 – 2011". Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ "Lalithambika Antharjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "മുട്ടത്ത്വര്ക്കി പുരസ്കാരം" [Muttathu Varkey Award]. Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 17 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ "വള്ളത്തോള് പുരസ്കാരം" [Vallathol Award]. Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 17 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ "Winners of Vallathol Literary Awards". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Ormmayile Basheer". archives.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Commemorative and definitive stamps". postagestamps.gov.in. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "WNS: IN002.09 (Vaikom Muhhammad Busheer)". Universal Postal Union. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Basheer and the freedom struggle". frontline.thehindu.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
Further reading
- R. E. Asher (24 January – 6 February 1998). "Basheer and the freedom struggle". Frontline. 15 (2).
- R. E. Asher (1970). "Three Novelists of Kerala". In T. W. Clarke (ed.). The Novel in India: Its Birth and Development. California: University of California. pp. 205–234.
- V. Abdulla (12 August 1994). "A lone traveller". Frontline.
- K. Satchidanandan (1 February 2008). "Sultan of story: A birth centenary tribute to Vaikom Mohammed Basheer who picked up his tales from life's poetry". Frontline. 25 (2).
- JSTOR 23348483. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- N. V. Muhammad Rafi (2010). Ecopresence in the novels of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (Thesis). hdl:10603/27104.
- P. P. Aboobacker (2015). Local life depicted in the novels of Vaikom Muhammed Basheer and R K Narayan a comparative study (Thesis). hdl:10603/34161.
External links
- "List of works by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer" (in Malayalam). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019.
- "Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019.
- Vaikom Muhammad Basheer at IMDb
- "Vaikom Muhammad Basheer: A profile". YouTube. Doordarshan. 15 July 2015. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
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Literary awards |
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Fiction writers |
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Poets |
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Playwrights | |
Children's literature | |
Essayists/Critics |
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Scholars and Grammarians | |
Translators | |
Genre | |
Novels |
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Treatises | |
Poems | |
Assorted articles |
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Padma Award winners of Kerala | |
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Padma Vibhushan | |
Padma Bhushan (Male) |
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Padma Bhushan (Female) | |
Padma Shri (Male) |
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Padma Shri (Female) |
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(*)By birth - (#)By ethnicity - (!)By domicile |
1968–1980 |
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1981–2000 |
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2001–present |
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Honorary Fellows |
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Premchand Fellowship |
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Ananda Coomaraswamy Fellowship |
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