God’s Own Country- A tiny state down south

Athira Gopal

God’s Own Country- A tiny state down south

Something that you should definitely try when in Kerala is to squint your eyes, the colours that scream at you are hues of greens and blues. Kerala is a state located in India's southwest quadrant. "God's Own Country" is the name given to the state. Kerala's history dates back to the Christian era, but the contemporary state was formed on November 1, 1956, when all the states were reformed. Kerala is distinct from the rest of India in a number of ways. Perhaps because it is the farthest-flung state or because, being a coastal state, it receives a large number of visitors.

Street, Cochin; Image source: Charley Brown

The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 merged the Malabar District, Travancore-Cochin, and the taluk of Kasargod to form the state of Kerala, with Thiruvananthapuram as its capital. Elections for the new Kerala Legislative Assembly were held in 1957, and E. M. S. Namboodiripad led a reformist, Communist-led government to power.

Kerala was named one of the 50 must-see destinations in the world by National Geographic Traveller, as well as one of the world's thirteen paradises. Next chance you get, don’t forget to visit this paradise on earth with rich history and heritage.

Kerala became the first state in the world to democratically elect a Marxist administration in 1957, making history. The state is dominated by left-wing ideology. It has the highest female-to-male population ratio, the lowest infant mortality rate, and the highest literacy rate in the country. These facts speak volumes about the state, which is frequently compared to the developed western countries' societies. In Kerala’s defence, it has seen a fair number of these western countries’ cultures in the past.

Digging deep into the history you’ll find a lot of myths about the origin of the state.

The most popular one is that of Parashurama. Lord Vishnu manifested himself as Parasuram. He was the sixth of Vishnu's ten incarnations. In Sanskrit, the word parasu means "axe," hence the name Parasuram means "Ram with Axe." His birth was intended to free the world from the oppressive rule of the reigning caste, the Kshatriyas. He slaughtered all of the male Kshatriyas on the planet and poured their blood into five lakes. He approached an assembly of wise men after defeating the Kshatriya kings to seek forgiveness for his transgressions. He was told that in order to avoid eternal damnation, he needed to give the Brahmins the lands he had conquered. At Gokarna, he followed their advice and sat in meditation. Varuna, the God of the Oceans, and Bhumidevi, the Goddess of the Earth, both blessed him there. He reached Kanyakumari from Gokarna and flung his axe northward across the ocean. Kerala was formed where the axe landed. Between Gokarnam and Kanyakumari, there existed 160 katam (an ancient measurement) of land. According to the Puranas, Parasuram was the one who planted the 64 Brahmin households in Kerala, bringing them down from the north to atone for the death of the Kshatriyas. Kerala is also known as Parasurama Kshetram, or 'The Land of Parasurama,' according to the Puranas because the land was reclaimed from the sea by him.

But according to geologists, Kerala was produced gradually or suddenly by seismic activity.

The history of Kerala runs deep. The term "ancient period" refers to the period preceding the Christian era. Kerala's history may be dated back to 4000 B.C.E Kerala established trading relations with the Sindhu Valley Civilization by circa 3000 B.C.E, and its spices and commodities, such as Sandalwood, Ivory, and Teakwood, were exported to various western countries. By 300 B.C.E, the Aryans had arrived in Kerala from north India. The first record of Kerala may be found in one of Emperor Asoka's rock edicts, which dates back to B.C.E. 257. In the Pandiyan Empire, 'Sanghams' were conferences or groups of poets that existed in various sections of the empire. In C.E. 45, Heppalus, a Roman-Greek sailor, arrived in Musiris (Kodungalur), allowing direct trade with the Roman Empire.

The Chera monarchs conquered sections of northern Kerala between 50 and 125 C.E. Kerala maintained a good trading relationship with the West at this time as well. St. Thomas arrived in Kerala in 52 C.E., and Christianity flourished. Malikben Dinar arrived in Kerala around 644 C.E, where he built mosques and spread Islam. During the Post-Sangham period, Adi Shankara (Sankaracharya, 788 - 820 C.E.) lived and propagated the Advaita philosophy. During this time, each king was enthroned for a period of 12 years. A new king was chosen once his time ended, following a festival or cultural celebration called 'Mamankam '.

These kinds of events are only found in Kerala. Beginning in 800 C.E, the Kulasekara empire lasted for almost three centuries. This period is also known as the "Second Chera Empire Period." These rulers were called Kulasekaras after their surname. The Pandyas left Kerala after a period of occupation. Kerala was freed from Chola rule in 1070. Those who ruled over a tiny province rather than a big empire were known as provincial rulers. The Chera empire formerly encompassed these territories. Provincial rulers were constrained to small territories, although they constantly battled for dominance. The prominent rulers were the kings of Venad and Kochi, as well as the Zamorins of Kozhikode.

Vasco da Gama arrived in Kappad, near Kozhikode, in 1498. The arrival of a handful of Europeans followed this. The first Europeans to establish a stronghold in Kerala were the Portuguese. The Dutch and the British followed suit later. The Dutch arrived in Kerala after the Portuguese. They began in 1592 with the formation of the Dutch East India Company. Kerala piqued British interest as well with its spices and other natural treasures. By the mid-seventeenth century, the British had established dominance in Kerala, which lasted for the following 200 years till independence.

Several educational institutions and hospitals were established during this time. The British built numerous railway lines, roads, and bridges. Kerala owes its modernisation to the British in some ways. Early revolts and conflicts against British control, such as the Pazhassi and Mappilai revolts, were crushed by the British with an iron fist. The colonial powers were weakened by the World Wars, which boosted nationalist movements in the colonies. Several large and small movements erupted until 1947 when the country was fully free of colonialism's grip.