Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, a beloved author and freedom fighter from Kerala, India, passed away on July 5, 1994, at the age of 86. Born on January 21, 1908 in Thalayolaparambu in Kottayam district in Kerala, Basheer was known for his unwavering commitment to the freedom movement in India, during which he was imprisoned and suffered immensely. A school dropout, Basheer started his writing and literary career at the age of 14, when he began writing short stories for various Malayalam magazines. By the time he was 20 years old, he had published a novel. Throughout his career, he published over 30 works, and was known for his pro- socialist, secular, and progressive views on life. He won several awards and titles, including the Padma Shri from the Government of India in 1982 for his contribution to Malayalam literature. He is survived by his 4 sons and most importantly, his timeless literary works. He will forever be remembered for his contributions to Malayalam literature and his commitment to the freedom movement in India.