Latest news with #VaikomMuhammadBasheer
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
A school to remember Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer with 52 story telling sessions in 52 classrooms
The students of SNDP HSS, Udayamperoor, near Kochi city, are set to remember the legendary Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in a rather unique way. As many as 52 students from Classes V to X in as many divisions will tell a 10-minute-long story each of the late writer in their respective classrooms before the class hours on Monday (July 7), two days after the writer's death anniversary on July 5. This year, it happened to be on Saturday, a holiday. 'We have come across Basheer memorial day being observed by students getting dressed up as his characters. That hardly do any good in terms of getting familiarised with the writer's works. That's why we came up with this idea of telling his stories,' said school Headteacher Deepa S. Narayanan. Not a one-off event The Basheer commemoration will not be a one-off event either, but rather part of a novel initiative named 'Vidyalayam Kadha Parayunnu' (A school telling stories), which got under way on June 19 coinciding with the Reading Day and will last through this academic year. Under this programme, the first 10 minutes before the classes will be dedicated to story telling every single working day. The school is using the extra 30 minutes added to the school hours this year for the programme. 'This way, all 2,500 students in Classes V to X in all 52 divisions will get to tell a story in their classrooms. Students' roll numbers will be followed in story telling. They will be given the freedom to choose the stories that will fit into 10 minutes. In between, teachers will also tell stories, which could even be a portion from a famous novel,' said O.V. Saju, school Principal. The story telling will not be restricted to students and teachers. For instance, the school arranged a session last Friday when grandmothers of students came together for a story telling session. One of them, Leelamma Cherian, even recited a poem she had penned. The school plans to assemble parents interested in narrating stories as well. 'We are looking at roping in people from all walks of life. The concept being that anyone with a passion can tell stories and not necessarily big literary names alone,' said Smitha Karun, a Malayalam faculty member. In fact, last year, she organised a similar story telling programme in her class, which was then videographed and shared in WhatsApp group of parents. Obviously, the parents were delighted to see their children addressing a full classroom. The school is now mulling over similar video documentation of Vidyalayam Kadha Paraynnu sessions. Also, the student writes down the moral of the story they tell on the blackboard, which is being recorded in a notebook. The possibility of publishing it as a book at the end of the academic year is also being explored.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The man who wasn't a litterateur
By: Prof MK Sanoo It was during the era of progressive literature that Vaikom Muhammad Basheer began writing. While Thakazhi, Kesava Dev, and Ponkunnam Varkey aimed to transform society through literature, Basheer's approach was different—he treated stories simply as stories. Each of his works had a distinct pattern. This is evident in Poovambazham, Pathummayude Adu, or Pranayalekhanam. Though part of the progressive movement, he walked his own path—and his writing was truly unique. In Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu, he stressed the need for the Muslim community to adopt progressive thinking. In Mathilukal, he beautifully blended reality and fantasy—something no one else dared at the time. He wrote fearlessly, portraying characters as they were. His language was distinctive and lyrical. He coined unforgettable phrases like 'Onnum Onnum Immini Balya Onnu' (One plus one makes a bit big one), introducing a new rhythm to Malayalam prose. I first met Basheer during a Sahithya Parishat meeting in the 1950s near TDM Hall. Curious, I went looking for him—but he wasn't there. I found him instead at his bookstall near Boat Jetty, Kochi, selling his own books. I asked, 'Why aren't you at the Parishat meeting?' He quipped, 'Isn't that for litterateurs?' He never considered himself one. He lived then in a building opposite the Press Club. He'd sleep till noon, roam at night. We often gathered at Shanmugham Road—PK Balakrishnan, Ponjikkara Rafi, CJ Thomas, Basheer and I. Tea at the Sea View Hotel often followed, with discussions on literature and life. Basheer had clever book-selling tricks. He'd pitch a book with a quick, witty summary. His umbrella—custom-made nearby—had 'specially made for Vaikom Muhammad Basheer' printed inside. Once, someone mistakenly took it. Basheer chased him: 'Are you Basheer? No? Then open it—the name is written inside!' In the late '50s, he sold the bookstall to NBS and moved to Thalayolaparambu. A board outside read: 'Those who need tea should bring milk and tea. Water is plenty.' Later, in Beypore, he sat under the mangosteen tree. When he received a freedom fighter's award, he joked, 'Good to pelt dogs with.'Meals at his home were always generous—pearl fish fry a favourite. Once, he and Varkey bought food, left it in a room, and went for a drink. They returned to find a dog had eaten it. Basheer told it, 'Hey dog, please go drink some water now. (As told to MK Sunilkumar)
