Onam and global Malayalees

ONAM is the greatest celebration of Malayalees. All over the world, Malayalees celebrate Onam. We attended this year’s first Onam in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 12. We will be attending more Onam celebrations by Kerala Associations, Kerala Center, etc. 

Onam is the greatest symbol of the Malayalee community of their culture and character. We often hear the stories of Malayalees not helping each other and jealous of each other. We hear the story of crabs from Kerala exporting without top cover for the container because one crab will not allow another crab to climb up and escape to freedom. 

Did we ever analyze why Malayalees migrated to countries all over the world in large numbers? 

It is because Malayalees helped each other to get a job, get sponsorship and provide initial support. We are a community that helps each other in times of need. We still continue that tradition. 

When we migrated to the US, a friend of ours provided the sponsorship required to get the visa. In 1973 when we came to the US, there were fewer than 10,000 Malayalees in the US. Now there are 600,000 Malayalees in the US. It is the same in Germany, the UK, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand where migration started with sponsorship and job offers. 

In Africa and the Gulf countries also, the opportunity for Malayalees to migrate and get a job happened by Malayalees helping each other. Therefore, the crab story, whoever created it, is not correct. 

Let us use the 2024 Onam season to enjoy our friendship and harmony among each other and help create a global Malayalee community.

The legacy of Emperor Maveli reminds Malayalees of the good times we had in ancient Kerala where people were divided in cast, creed, trade, religion and traditions in different economic conditions, wearing different types of clothes and having varied living conditions. 

I am sure during that period, very few people had good houses and wealthy living conditions. Yet, we sing “MAVELI NADU VANIDUM KALAM MANUSHYAR ELLARUM ONNU POLE” (English translation – During Maveli’s rule people were together). 

Nowhere in India, there is such a story of an epic emperor. It reflects the great culture and tradition of Malayalees of concern for each other and willingness to help each other so that everybody in the community can live happily. The Malayalam song about Onam says, there was no cheating or theft and people trusted each other during that time.

What do we learn from all the epic stories of the emperor and the time of his rule when we celebrate Onam every year with a nice vegetarian meal on Vazha ila (plantain leaf), enjoying a good time, drinking and dancing? We learn about the great history of the Malayalee community living together happily without cheating each other, but helping each other. Did such a Malayalee community ever exist or could exist? 

Malayalee communities have a history of communal harmony, respect each other’s religious beliefs and participate in other people’s celebrations. 

At times of mishaps like the tsunami or flood, Malayalees come together and help each other. This may be a human characteristic, but Malayalees display it more often and with no hesitation.  Jealousy, anger, hatred and love are also human characteristics and Malayalees also express them. In times of need, we forget these and display the positive human characteristics of love, concern, help and support.

Onam message from World Malayalee Voice in 2024 is to work towards a global Malayalee community able to communicate and connect with each other while maintaining their identity for generations to come as a community of good human beings willing to help others. 

Malayalees are in all professions in the US and other countries including some in active politics. There are many rich, powerful and influential Malayalees all over the world. There are many in medical, academic, scientific and technological fields. There are many financial and business managers. 

Let us encourage our next generation to continue the Malayalee connection to enjoy it as a global community displaying their outstanding qualities as professionals, leaders and good citizens.

ON BEHALF OF WORLD MALAYALEE VOICE, I WISH A VERY HAPPY ONAM TO MALAYALEES ALL OVER THE WORLD

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