Impact on Malayalees – Kerala election & Iran war

TWO recent events had an impact on Malayalees. First is the Kerala Assembly election held on April 9, when 77.5 per cent of the eligible population voted. It is a great victory for Indian democracy, which has flourished as the most stable democratic system of government in the world for the last 80 years. 

Malayalees must be proud of this great achievement in democracy, which has achieved 100% literacy and eliminated extreme poverty. One of the things I noticed during my recent visit is that Karla is a place where you can comfortably live and enjoy delicious food. People have become much friendlier. 

The exit polls in the elections do not declare a clear winner; they show that the two main groups, LDF and UDF, have the same chance of getting the majority and the new third group, NDA, may not win more than 2 or 3 seats. The people of Kerala are comfortable with both the LDF and the UDF, and there is no room for a third group yet. Whoever comes to power, people hope they will work towards reducing suicide and crimes in Kerala, work with the Central Government on fast rail systems, encourage and establish programs for organic farming and establish programs for women's employment.

The Iran war with the USA and Israel had a major impact on Malayalees. Of the 9000 plus Indian medical students in Iran, there were Malayalees, who were evacuated by the Govt of India. The attack by Iran on Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, had an impact on Malayalees. Many Malayalees travelling to North America, Europe and Africa got stuck for days in Gulf countries, and many had their flight cancelled and were stuck in Kerala. Whatever happens in the world now will affect Malayalees, as we reside in 191 out of the 198 countries.

I also take this opportunity to bring to your attention the progress Kerala and Malayalees have achieved in the last 50 years. When I grew up in Kerala in the fifties and sixties, Kerala was a poor state with not much income and about 50 per cent of the people were living in poverty and those of us who are supposed to be middle class hardly survived. 

Life was simple with no luxury or great comfort. Mostly, village life was with just enough clothes to wear and spending most of the time with family and friends in the community. Life has changed in Kerala now. Tourism has developed fully. Half of Kerala’s population works outside India. There is no more extreme poverty in Kerala. Most of the families I know, when you visit them, at least one person is in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia, or New Zealand, or if they are not working in Gulf countries.  

Most of the people in Kerala own a car, some with more than one car. Living in luxury and comfort is normal. Karala is God’s own country. Let us enjoy the great achievements of Malayalees as a community and be united, maintaining our Malayalee identity all over the world.