KOZHIKODE: Fathima Beevi, who goes by the moniker ‘Fabi’, was the silent force behind the writer. She quit her teaching job soon after their wedding on December 18, 1958.
Hailing from Cheruvannoor in the district, Fabi had a profound influence in Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s writing.
She maintained good friendships with Basheer’s contemporary writers. Fabi was also a proactive participant in his literary circles. She was part of many a literary gatherings in Kozhikode in those times.
Her autobiography, ‘Basheerinte ediye’ is a poignant account of her life with the great writer. Basheer used to fondly call her ‘Edi’, and she reciprocated calling him ‘Taata’.
After Basheer passed away on July 5, 1994, fans of writer would visit house to meet the great writer’s better half.
Fabi and Basheer has two children - Shahina and Anees.
“Fabi Basheer was the mainstay of Vaikom Mohammed Basheer, the greatest Malayalam writer of all time. She was like a family member to old generation writers like M T Vasudevan Nair, S K Pottekkatt, N P Mohammed, Uroob, etc. With her death, we are losing a woman who has seen it all,” said Cultural affairs Minister K C Joseph.
The famous ‘mangosteen’ in their orchard is still a hotspot for many literary discussions.