Kerala the land of indescribable beauty and infinite wisdom famed the world over for its breathtakingly beautiful backwaters, lush greenery and ayurvedic heritage. Legend states that Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu created the place by throwing his axe into the sea. Archeological research points to the presence of stone age Paleolithic and Neolithic people in the region. Search of spice brought Jews, Greeks, Romans and Arab muslims to this part in the first centuary AD. Thus migrations of people from different parts of the world facilitated the convergence of various cultural practices, beliefs, world-views and knowledge systems in that region.
The state has made enormous contributions to various filed including architecture, mathematics, astronomy and medicine. Atleast three centuries before Newton and Lieniz, Madhava a prominent mathematician-astronomer have developed infinite series approximation for a range of trigonometric functions. His discoveries opened the doors to what has today come to be known as mathematical analysis. It is believed that the writings of Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics founded by madhava have been transmitted to Europe via missionaries and traders who were active around the ancient ports at Cochin, Calicut and Kodungaloor.
Later in 1497 Vasco de gamma, a Portuguese explorer, with a desire to find spices started an expedition from Lisbon on July 8, 1497 with a group of four ships and a crew of 170 men. One year later their dream was successful with the historic landing near Calicut. Subsequently Dutch, French and British arrived. Slowly colonization began. But still princely states of Travancore and Kochi were able to preserve a nominal independence.
Later in 1936 Sree Chithira Thirunal Maharaja Varma of Travancore made the historic temple entry proclamation, opening the temples of Travancore for all irrespective of caste. In 1957 history was created again when Kerala became the first place in the world to elect a communist government led by EMS Namboothiripad.
Pilgrimages
After Tirupathi the state is the home town to two of the most famous pilgrim destinations of India – Sabarimala Ayyappa temple and Guruvayoor Krishna temple. Unique feature of Sabarimala is that it is open to people of all faith. Pooram festival of thrissur is famous for its elephant procession.
Festivals
Onam a festival celebrated by people of all religions is the calibration of the harvest, tied with the memory of Mahabali’s rule which was considered as the golden age of prosperity.
Boat Race
Vallamkali is a traditional boat race conducted during the harvest festival Onam. To keep up the spirits of the boatsmen highly rhythmic songs were also created called Vanchipattu.
Cultural heritage
Oldest classical dance form in Kerala is Koodiattam, a kind of Sanskrit drama. UNESCO recently declared is as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. World famous Kathakali with its wonderful combination of dance, drama, music, poetry, costume, makeup and ritual also originated from Kerala in 17th century. Traditionally performance of this art begins in the evening and continues throughout the night culminating at the auspicious hours of dawn, when god finally conquered evil. Mohiniattam, one of the most lyrical classical dance forms also originated from Kerala.
Folk dances
Theyyam, with its rare combination of dance and music reflecting the tribal culture is a popular ritual dance of north Kerala. Thiruvathirakalli is another popular dance. According to the Indian mythology, Parvathi performed religious penances in order to win shiva as her husband. Siva pleaded and agreed to take her as his wife on this very day of Thiruvathira.
Martial Art
Kalarippayattu, said to be the mother of all martial art was practiced widely in Kerala. It is clamed that a skilled person with a knowledge of Marmams can disable or kill their opponent by a mere touch in a marmam.
Music
Its tradition in Kerala starts from Panchavadyam an orchestra of 5 Instruments originated from Kerala to Sopanasangeetham which is recited only when the inner sanctum of temple is closed for customary ceremonial offerings to god & to Yesudas, Hariharan and Kim Thayil who was named 100th best guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
Movies
Directors from Kerala like Priyadarshan (virast) and Santhosh Sivan (Ashoka) literally rocked the bollywood. While Rajeev anchal (Beyond the soul) and Manoj Night Shyamalan (Sixth sense) stormed Hollywood.
As we come out from the history to the current world it is worth mentioning that, in this modern era of knowledge the state still keeps its tradition of richness through Literacy. The state stands first among all other states in education initiatives. A tech savy Kerala is also seen years ago, when mobile phones were the gadgets of the well headed in other parts of the country, Kerala’s fishermen brilliantly used them to negotiate price for their catch and showed the world how intelligent technology can bring benefit to grass root level.
Renowned Personalities
A child who was born in 1920 in a small thatched hut in Kerala like millions of similar dalit families had a dream to be educated. With this he walked 10 KM each day to the nearest school and even further to his college. Faced be social discrimination and poverty he struggled for a better living. Being so poor to eat, he wa taken by a family friend who fed him for two years ensuring that he completed his degree. But he was forced to refuse BA degree finally as he was denied the lecturer job simply because he was from a low caste. Later after working as part time lecturer for some time he borrowed 500 Rs from someone and left to Delhi. After working as a journalist for some time he received a scholarship from JRD Tata to study at London School of Economics. Later he became the tenth president of the Republic of India. From untouchable/socially handicapped to unbelievable and remarkable heights is truly an inspiration to all Indians.
Starting from Sashi tharoor(UN Under secretary), Devan Nair ( President Singapore), K G Balakrishnan ( Current Chief Justice), A K Antony (Defence minister), AKG (1st opposition leader in Indian parliament, Communist leader), Sreedhran (M D Delhi metro), G MAdhavan Nair ( Chairman ISRO, NRSA, Space commission, & secretary to department of state) the land is also a breeding place for many renowned personalities.
The state has made enormous contributions to various filed including architecture, mathematics, astronomy and medicine. Atleast three centuries before Newton and Lieniz, Madhava a prominent mathematician-astronomer have developed infinite series approximation for a range of trigonometric functions. His discoveries opened the doors to what has today come to be known as mathematical analysis. It is believed that the writings of Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics founded by madhava have been transmitted to Europe via missionaries and traders who were active around the ancient ports at Cochin, Calicut and Kodungaloor.
Later in 1497 Vasco de gamma, a Portuguese explorer, with a desire to find spices started an expedition from Lisbon on July 8, 1497 with a group of four ships and a crew of 170 men. One year later their dream was successful with the historic landing near Calicut. Subsequently Dutch, French and British arrived. Slowly colonization began. But still princely states of Travancore and Kochi were able to preserve a nominal independence.
Later in 1936 Sree Chithira Thirunal Maharaja Varma of Travancore made the historic temple entry proclamation, opening the temples of Travancore for all irrespective of caste. In 1957 history was created again when Kerala became the first place in the world to elect a communist government led by EMS Namboothiripad.
Pilgrimages
After Tirupathi the state is the home town to two of the most famous pilgrim destinations of India – Sabarimala Ayyappa temple and Guruvayoor Krishna temple. Unique feature of Sabarimala is that it is open to people of all faith. Pooram festival of thrissur is famous for its elephant procession.
Festivals
Onam a festival celebrated by people of all religions is the calibration of the harvest, tied with the memory of Mahabali’s rule which was considered as the golden age of prosperity.
Boat Race
Vallamkali is a traditional boat race conducted during the harvest festival Onam. To keep up the spirits of the boatsmen highly rhythmic songs were also created called Vanchipattu.
Cultural heritage
Oldest classical dance form in Kerala is Koodiattam, a kind of Sanskrit drama. UNESCO recently declared is as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. World famous Kathakali with its wonderful combination of dance, drama, music, poetry, costume, makeup and ritual also originated from Kerala in 17th century. Traditionally performance of this art begins in the evening and continues throughout the night culminating at the auspicious hours of dawn, when god finally conquered evil. Mohiniattam, one of the most lyrical classical dance forms also originated from Kerala.
Folk dances
Theyyam, with its rare combination of dance and music reflecting the tribal culture is a popular ritual dance of north Kerala. Thiruvathirakalli is another popular dance. According to the Indian mythology, Parvathi performed religious penances in order to win shiva as her husband. Siva pleaded and agreed to take her as his wife on this very day of Thiruvathira.
Martial Art
Kalarippayattu, said to be the mother of all martial art was practiced widely in Kerala. It is clamed that a skilled person with a knowledge of Marmams can disable or kill their opponent by a mere touch in a marmam.
Music
Its tradition in Kerala starts from Panchavadyam an orchestra of 5 Instruments originated from Kerala to Sopanasangeetham which is recited only when the inner sanctum of temple is closed for customary ceremonial offerings to god & to Yesudas, Hariharan and Kim Thayil who was named 100th best guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
Movies
Directors from Kerala like Priyadarshan (virast) and Santhosh Sivan (Ashoka) literally rocked the bollywood. While Rajeev anchal (Beyond the soul) and Manoj Night Shyamalan (Sixth sense) stormed Hollywood.
As we come out from the history to the current world it is worth mentioning that, in this modern era of knowledge the state still keeps its tradition of richness through Literacy. The state stands first among all other states in education initiatives. A tech savy Kerala is also seen years ago, when mobile phones were the gadgets of the well headed in other parts of the country, Kerala’s fishermen brilliantly used them to negotiate price for their catch and showed the world how intelligent technology can bring benefit to grass root level.
Renowned Personalities
A child who was born in 1920 in a small thatched hut in Kerala like millions of similar dalit families had a dream to be educated. With this he walked 10 KM each day to the nearest school and even further to his college. Faced be social discrimination and poverty he struggled for a better living. Being so poor to eat, he wa taken by a family friend who fed him for two years ensuring that he completed his degree. But he was forced to refuse BA degree finally as he was denied the lecturer job simply because he was from a low caste. Later after working as part time lecturer for some time he borrowed 500 Rs from someone and left to Delhi. After working as a journalist for some time he received a scholarship from JRD Tata to study at London School of Economics. Later he became the tenth president of the Republic of India. From untouchable/socially handicapped to unbelievable and remarkable heights is truly an inspiration to all Indians.
Starting from Sashi tharoor(UN Under secretary), Devan Nair ( President Singapore), K G Balakrishnan ( Current Chief Justice), A K Antony (Defence minister), AKG (1st opposition leader in Indian parliament, Communist leader), Sreedhran (M D Delhi metro), G MAdhavan Nair ( Chairman ISRO, NRSA, Space commission, & secretary to department of state) the land is also a breeding place for many renowned personalities.
