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Kerala (Kēraḷaṁ,
Malayalam:
കേരളം)
Kerala is one of
the ten 'Paradises Found' by the National Geographic Traveler,
for its diverse geography and overwhelming greenery. It is a
land much acclaimed for the contemporary nature of its cultural
ethos, and much appreciated for the soothing, rejuvenating
paradise that it is. Geographically, Kerala is a narrow fertile
strip on the southwest coast of India, sandwiched between the
Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats with
their dense forests and extensive ridges have sheltered Kerala
from many mainland invaders and the long coastline has
encouraged maritime contact with the outside world - a contact
that has resulted in an interesting blend of cultures.
Kerala is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern
India. To its east and northeast, Kerala borders Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka respectively; to its west and south lie Arabian Sea
and the Indian Ocean with the islands of Lakshadweep and the
Maldives, respectively. Kerala envelops Mahé, a coastal exclave
of Pondicherry. Kerala is one of the four states in South India.
First settled in the 10th century BCE by speakers of P
cxroto-South Dravidian, Kerala was influenced by the Mauryan
Empire. Later, the Cheran kingdom and feudal Namboothiri
Brahminical city-states became major powers in the region. Early
contact with overseas lands culminated in struggles between
colonial and native powers. Finally, the States Reorganisation
Act of November 1, 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood. Social
reforms enacted in the late 19th century by Cochin and
Travancore were expanded upon by post-Independence governments,
making Kerala among the Third World's longest-lived, healthiest,
most gender-equitable, and most literate regions. However,
 Kerala's suicide, alcoholism and unemployment rates rank among
India's highest.
The etymology of Kerala
is widely disputed, and is a matter of conjecture. It may derive from Sanskrit
keralam, means 'the land added on', with reference to its mythical and
geographical origins. Another prevailing theory states that it is an imperfect
Malayalam portmanteau that fuses kera
('coconut palm tree') and alam ('land' or 'location' or
'abode of' ). Natives of Kerala—Keralites—thus refer to their land as
Keralam. The most reliable theory is that the name is originated from the
phrase chera alam (Land of the Chera). Kerala's tourism industry,
among others, also use the phrase God's own country.
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