KOCHI: “The cool shade of the mangosteen tree and ‘Sojaa Rajakumari….’ flowing from the old gramophone. Basheer’s humorous comments about our family members...That is what I remember the most about him, the ‘sultan,” says K P Achuthan about his intimate relationship with Malayalam’s master story teller- Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer.
“Beyond all formalities we exchanged views about everything under the sun. Our friendly chat, flavoured with Fabi’s sulaimani (black tea) and Saigal’s soulful songs, lasted for hours,” he says, tracing the fading memories.
Their relationship started in the late 1940s when Achuthan was a student of Ernakulam Law College. It was Ponjikkara Rafi who introduced the two. The Circle Book House near the Boat Jetty was their meeting point.
Basheer later took over the shop and changed its name to Basheer Book House.
“I used to attend all the intellects’ meetings there, skipping my classes. I shared invaluable moments with Ramu Kariat, Vayalar Rama Varma, cine actor Sathyan and others. It was very valuable for me,” says Achuthan, former joint director of the Coir Board.
“Somehow ‘Bepore Sultan’ became a part of my life and he influenced me in all things.
Basheer was always keen to maintain the warmth and freshness of our relationship through frequent letters. Almost all his letters mentioned characters or future projects like ‘Manthrika Poocha’,’Ormakalude Arakal’ and ‘Thaara Special.’ And Basheer used to send me a copy of all his books with a specially designed covering letter,” he says. One such letter came on June 15, 1967, along with Basheer’s controversial work, ‘Oru Bhagavadgeethayum Kure Mulakalum.’ Basheer’s comments on the complimentary copies were also very special. On the pages of ‘Premalekhanam’ Basheer asked him to recall bygone romantic moments. And Achuthan could feel his love for people in novels like ‘Premalekhanam’, ‘Aanavaariyum Ponkurishum’, ‘Pachavelicham’, ‘Paathummayude Aadu’, ‘Thaara Special’ and other countless titles.
“After my marriage my wife Shyamala Kumari Kunjamma wrote the letters for me as my handwriting was very bad. When Basheer came to know about this, he started addressing my wife in his letters. Basheer often described his wife as Queen Fabi, daughter Shahina as Princess Shahina and his son as Prince Anees. And he wrote about his cow, goat, dogs and other animals in the house,” says Achuthan who wants to publish these invaluable letters one day.
One such letter is about two pet dogs, Shan and Boby, how some stray dogs tried to strike up a relationship with Boby and Shan, without considering his age, defeated all of them. Another letter narrates the entry of a newcomer in his house as the cow gave birth.
“He addressed me as ‘periya Nair’ and my wife as Omana Kunjamma.
His letters reveal the greatness of this writer who was always very keen to maintain his friendships.
That is why he could pick up all his characters from real life.
His friends and even his pet animals, who could communicate with their master through a mystic language of love, found a place in his works,” Achuthan observes. Sunday marked the 15th death anniversary of Basheer who paved a path of his own in narrating tales. These years have not broken the bond started some six decades ago.
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