Maluvamma’s goat!

Here’s to the historic women’s bill passed in the upperhouse today! Tribute to one of my favourite characters ‘Pathumma and her goat‘ written in 1959 by Malayalam writer Basheer.

“Basheer’s sister Pathumma, who lived in a dilapidated shack a little distance away, would visit the house everyday with her daughter Khadeeja and with them would come Pathumma’s goat. This goat had absolute freedom in the house. It would eat up anything it could, from fallen leaves before someone came to sweep them, Chaambaykka fruits from the lower branches of the tree Basheer planted, trousers worn by Basheer’s nephew Abi, grass specially gathered for it, food set away for it, even food meant for human inhabitants of the house…to the author’s copy of newest editions of Basheer’s Baalyakaalasakhi, Shabdangal and Vishwavikhyaadamaaya Mookku, fresh out of press.”