How a childhood brush with Gandhiji and his mother’s stark question shaped ‘Vaikom’ Muhammad Basheer

When Mahatma Gandhi visited Vaikom in March 1925 to express his support for the Vaikom Satyagraha, he went to meet the Namboothiri of the Indamthuruthi Mana, a household with significant influence over the temple.

Even the most beloved figure in India, the Mahatma himself, was not allowed to enter the Mana. Instead, a temporary portico was built outside for their discussion; a stark reminder of the rigid caste system during those times.

The Vaikom Satyagraha left a profound impact on young people from all castes and faiths, at a time when there was no extensive news media or social networks as we have today.

Among those captivated by Gandhi was a schoolboy named Kochu Muhammad, who later came to be known as Vaikom Muhammad Basheer , then studying at the Vaikom English Medium School.