KOZHIKODE: Remembering the intimacy between the two towering personalities of Malayalam literature - Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and Sukumar Azhikode - Fabi Basheer, the widow of Basheer, recalled Azhikode as an indispensable friend of Basheer and a family member.Going through the memoirs of their close relationship at her house in Beypore, she said, “The rapport between Basheer and Azhikode was something beyond words. He was always a part of our family and was deeply fond of our children.”The bond between Basheer and Azhikode flourished when the latter stayed in Kozhikode while he was the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University in the 80’s. “Though both of them knew each other before, Azhikode’s stay in Kozhikode helped the relationship grow further. There would not be a week without our family sharing time with him. On weekends and in holidays either Azhikode would come to our house or we would visit him. The relationship was grown to such a level that my son Anees Basheer was enrolled into the school by Azhikode himself,” she recalled.Describing the relationship between Basheer and Azhikode as one based on mutual understanding and respect, Faby Basheer further said, “My husband would only say ‘Sukumaran is coming’, which means that it was our duty to prepare special food items, as he was living alone and enjoyed our food a lot, particularly biriyani. Along with sharing their own thoughts on various topics, his visit was always a celebration for all of us, especially for my children,” she remembered.Though time created a wedge between Sukumar Azhikode and Basheer’s family, the deep-rooted relationship was never in remoteness with Fabi Basheer saying that Azhikode had sent her a special invitation card on the occasion of his 85th birthday, a couple of months ago and she visited him in hospital a week ago. She concluded by saying that Azhikode had expressed his intention to share time with her family, like when Basheer was alive, but it remained unfulfilled.
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