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Janmadinam

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Basheer.jpg
Born Abdul Rahman Muhammad Basheer
(1908-01-19)19 January 1908
Thalayolaparambu, Vaikom, Kottayam district, Travancore
Died 5 July 1994(1994-07-05) (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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