On the weakness of the Malayali identity.
[Thread]
The more I think about it, the more obvious it becomes that the Malayali identity isn't as solid as one thinks it is.
On the one hand, the Malayali identity was a means to seperate oneself from other South Indians and on the other it was a survival mechanism.
On the one hand, the Malayali identity was a means to seperate oneself from other South Indians and on the other it was a survival mechanism.
Malayalis were the only group who managed to break out of feudalism in India, hence there is no real attachment to land.
This combined with Kerala's inability to provide opportunities means there's no choice but to wander around India and the world in order to survive.
This combined with Kerala's inability to provide opportunities means there's no choice but to wander around India and the world in order to survive.
Malayalis across all castes have to deal with the same problem so the economic conditions have in a way made everyone equal.
Thus cooperation when outside Kerala is something that comes naturally. This gets mistaken by outsiders as proof that the malayali identity is strong.
Thus cooperation when outside Kerala is something that comes naturally. This gets mistaken by outsiders as proof that the malayali identity is strong.
When looking at Kerala, it's clear that the identity is very superficial.
The desire to avoid others is quite evident, one only has to take a look at the public goods or the lack thereof.
The desire to avoid others is quite evident, one only has to take a look at the public goods or the lack thereof.
Kochi for example, only got proper footpaths on roads thanks to the metro. Public transport isn't the best and is neglected by the government.
There's nothing much done to help make the people's lives easier other than massive investments in education.
There's nothing much done to help make the people's lives easier other than massive investments in education.
There's no physical infrastructure or essential goverment services that would be indicative of a "communist" society.
Once you remove the need to seperate oneself from outsiders and the need to survive outside Kerala, the Malayali likes keeping to himself and his caste.
Once you remove the need to seperate oneself from outsiders and the need to survive outside Kerala, the Malayali likes keeping to himself and his caste.
Malayalis say casteism doesn't exist in Kerala. It does, but it takes a very different form.
The average person is not unhappy when a fellow Malayali isn't from his caste, but would have been happier if he was.
The average person is not unhappy when a fellow Malayali isn't from his caste, but would have been happier if he was.
With the changes that have been brought by economic reforms and India's shift towards capitalism, there's two ways things can moe forward.
The early emigrants are being absorbed into a new urban Hindu identity that's being created in the current wave of urban sanskritisation.
The early emigrants are being absorbed into a new urban Hindu identity that's being created in the current wave of urban sanskritisation.
The ones who only moved recently i.e the IT workers and other professionals seem to be more insular and not interested in assimilation as they've been on the receiving end of hostility.
The Malayali today is hated for simply existing and is seen as a competitor by all.
The Malayali today is hated for simply existing and is seen as a competitor by all.
This will likely result in the Malayali identity being stronger, but the strength will come not from forces like Brahminism that created the high culture of the past.
It will be a low culture that's built on opposition to the "Hindi, Hindu, Hindustani" cultural force.
It will be a low culture that's built on opposition to the "Hindi, Hindu, Hindustani" cultural force.
A DMK form of politics with lower castes at the forefront revolting against the traditional order of Kerala society.
The contradiction that'll emerge under such conditions will be a new wave of Hinduization that will incorporate north Indian elements.
The contradiction that'll emerge under such conditions will be a new wave of Hinduization that will incorporate north Indian elements.
This dialectic has been playing out in Malabar, with Kannur being the main battleground.
But how it will play out when this reaches all of Kerala is something I do not know.
But how it will play out when this reaches all of Kerala is something I do not know.
The social and political ramifications of this shift on Kerala as a whole will be interesting to observe in the coming years.
As for the future of Malayalis as a people, it is hard to say. Whatever the future holds, it is certain that things will be very different from now.
As for the future of Malayalis as a people, it is hard to say. Whatever the future holds, it is certain that things will be very different from now.
[End of thread]
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