Moments with Muhammad Basheer

The goat was everywhere - nibbling green leaves, looking forlorn, or being pampered like a baby. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer lives on through his works immortalised by many artists in Kerala.

Most of them brought alive the scenes from Basheer’s ‘Pathummayude Aadu.’ C N Karunakaran in his unique technique and style outlined Fatima and her goat. The colour of the goat, the spartan house, the earthen pitcher and her simplicity and innocence are in tune with Basheer’s words.

The autobiographical elements in the novel are rolled on in different hues in K V Krishna Kumar’s murallike frame. Another piece places him on a universal pedestal with the goat down to earth and his easy-chair resting far above. Layered with meaning, most of the works throw light on the greatness of Basheer and his place in Malayalam literature. C R Manmadan captures the character of the goat with the dark-framed spectacles against the backdrop of greenery even as a pen on a blank paper lay on a table.

Full report here New Indian Express