‘Soja rajkumari...soja...’ As the K.L. Saigal song of the 1940 film Zindagi, which brings a default image of Vaikom Muhammed Basheer to the minds of his readers, started playing, Anavaari Raman Nair, Mandan Musthafa, and a few other Basheerian characters carried their author on a reclining chair into the middle of the crowd.
As he dozes off, listening to the sweet melody, the goddess of words presents him with a pen, with which he created characters that became household names. As Pathumma, Ponkurishu Thoma, Kandan Parayan, Jameela Beebi, and Ottakkannan Pokker walked in, the stage came alive with conversations in typical Basheerian style.
The Basheer Commemoration organised by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and Bankmen’s Club in Kozhikode on Wednesday, ahead of the writer’s 24th death anniversary that falls on Thursday, was noteworthy for the variety of programmes, the afore-mentioned street play, Immini Ballyonnu, by Mavoor Vijayan and team being one of them.
The Basheer quiz in the morning saw a fairly good participation with around 130 students turning up. “Even after 24 years, Basheer is still the favourite author of students, who surprised us with their knowledge of his works,” Bankmen’s Club president K.J. Thomas said, adding that most students were from government schools.
The seminar, Basheerinte Lokam, was opened by writer N.P. Hafis Muhammed, while writers Khadeeja Mumtaz, B.M. Zuhra, and Shabitha joined discussions. Later, social critic M.N. Karassery delivered the Basheer Commemoration lecture, while academician K.E.N. Kunhammad delivered the Basheer memorial lecture. The Basheer Memorial Awards for the best college magazines in the State were also given away on the occasion.
Anthrop, the student magazine of Dr. P.K. Rajan Memorial Campus of Kannur University, was adjudged the best college magazine among the 27 entries. Anthrop editor Adarsh.V. was adjudged the best student editor. Road to Pak, edited by Georgekutty James of Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, bagged the second prize, while Kuttyane Alazhikku Pondatto, edited by Dinnu George of Malayalm University, Tirur, bagged the third prize.
Varanthayilanu of Sir Syed College, Talipparamba, Piranthu of Government Medical College, Kozhikode, 360 Degree of Government Medical College, Manjeri, and Pakarnattam of Munnar Engineering College bagged consolation prizes.