Birthday is a collection of short stories by the Famous author Vaikom Muhammed Basheer(1908-1994). Before he became, only in the memories on July 5th 1994, he had contributed many literature , of which many were translated to English and various Indian regional languages.
The book contains 8 short stories which pleases our mind as if we had a sumptuous and delicious supper. One thing we should keep in mind while reading this book is, all the story narrates the incidents and social system existed before 1945.
In Janmadinam (Birthday), the author was struggling to make his Birthday a real memorable incident by having three times. He went to a hotel to had his breakfast, just to get disappointed, since he had some previous dues. Then he thought of going to Hameed to had his lunch, for which the author had been invited. However, he missed that too. At 3:30 pm, he had been lend 2 anas by a boy, who were working as a servant in Bank clerk Krishna Pilla's house, when he reached the author for a match stick. The author kept one ana for later purpose and with remaining one ana he ordered for Dosa, Tea and Beedi (local cigar). At night 9 pm when he laid for sleep with an empty stomach, he could not. Later, he stealed food from near by room. Through out the story, the author underscored the starvation many people were undergoing then. The author made us to think, there were thousands, who found it difficult to foothold of one time meal.
Aishukkutty: The story of a house wife AishaKutty, who were undergoing labour pain. She could have delivered normally but she wanted a doctor's presence as she considered it as a prestige issue. She postponted her delivery, till the doctor to reach. Her husband and in-laws did not have money to bring a doctor. At last, she was about to deliver, the doctor reached. Then, she delivered normally. She was happy that, she could tell to her neighbours that she had been delivered with the help of a doctor.
Tiger: delineate the story of a police dog, who was the luckiest dog. When the whole place was under poverty and even when people were starving, Tiger was lucky to had food. For, Tiger, there were only two categories of people. One is Police and the others are Culprits. There were 45 culprits in the jail, including politicians. But for Tiger, everybody was equal. It did not differentiate the politicians from others.
Nairashyam: is the story of a man who reached high status of an Admistrator of a country and respected by many. Just before his death, when people asked: what was his last wish, and why he was looking so disappointed. He revealed that, the world considered him as the luckiest man, however, the fact was that, he did not get a glass of water who he loved in his early life. His early life started as a street boy then became a soldier. Somewhere in his life he met a lady and admired by her. He wanted only a glass of water from her which she did not gave him then.
Kallanottu (Counterfiet note/currency): delineate a mother who sold her daughter against a counterfeit Currency without knowing that it was a counterfiet. A policeman who had an infatuation on her, later found her dead body in a lonely place, with a bunch of counterfeit on her chest.
Oru Chithrathinte Katha(A Story of a Picture): The story started with, the son of a doctor stabbed the Lecturer's son, who were close friends. It was a mystery, what happened between the two best friends. Later the Judge is sentenced him to death. Later, the same Judge killed her daughter by bifurcated her head from body, who shared bed with her servant. Meanwhile, the Judge found out that she had a hand in the mystery happened between the two friends. He surrendered infront of Inspector with the servant and his daughter's head and revealed that, prostitution is not the symptom of starvation.
Second Hand: is the story of Sharada her ideology was: she could not love anybody since she had been cheated by a famous poet and gave birth to baby who died immediatey after the delivery. She revealed to Gopinath, who wanted to marry her. After their marriage, Gopinath met that famous poet during a function and he told to Gopinath, she was a second hand. Gopinath retorted, that he knew all of Sharada's flash back.
Oru Jailppulliyude Chithram(The picture of a prisoner): is the story of a lady Mariamma who happened to be love with handsome Joseph who was convicted and put into a special cell for culprits who must be sentenced to death. The story is all about, the letters they were communicating and later Joseph stopping her from loving him since his future was uncertain.
