Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
| Vaikom Muhammad Basheer | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | Abdul Rahman Muhammad Basheer 19 January 1908 Thalayolaparambu, Vaikom, Kottayam district, Travancore |
| Died | 5 July 1994 (aged 86) Beypore, Calicut district, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Author, freedom fighter |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Genre | Novel, short story, essays, memoirs |
| Notable awards |
Sahitya Akademi 1970 Central Sahitya Akademi, Padma Shri 1982 Kerala State Film Award for Best Story 1989 Mathilukal Lalithambika Antharjanam Award 1992 Muttathu Varkey Award 1993 Vallathol Award 1993 |
| Spouse | Fabi Basheer |
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (19 January 1908 – 5 July 1994) was a Malayalam fiction writer from the state of Kerala in India. He was a humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer. He is noted for his path-breaking, disarmingly down-to-earth style of writing that made him equally popular among literary critics as well as the common man. He is regarded as one of the most successful and outstanding writers from India. Translations of his works into other languages have won him worldwide acclaim. His notable works include Balyakalasakhi, Shabdangal, Pathummayude Aadu, Mathilukal, Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu, Janmadinam and Anargha Nimisham. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1982. He is fondly remembered as the Beypore Sultan.
Basheer, born in Thalayolaparambu (near Vaikom) Kottayam District, was the eldest child of his parents. His father was in the timber business. 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 Khaddar, 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 every day.
He resolved to join the fight for an independent India, leaving school to do so while he was in the fifth form. Basheer was known for his perfectly secular attitude, and he treated all religions with respect.
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