The first thing that struck me about Kerala was the hammer
and sickle flag plastered all over the state. Local politics were dominated
by the Communist Party until fairly recently and it’s clear that the Communists
still have strong political sway. I can’t help think this is related to the
following things I learned/observed:
- Kerala is one of the poorest states in India.
- The people seem to be better attired there than in Rajasthan. They carry themselves with a greater air of prosperity.
- This state has the highest literacy rate in India.
- The state has a very strong Catholic presence.
- Environmentalism is alive and well. Forest reserves protect vast swaths of tiger territory and litter – although still a major eyesore – is not nearly as bad as in other parts of the country.
The place is really beautiful, if somewhat (very) lacking in
the comforts of modern life. Getting wifi, a beer, or even a working elevator
can be a challenge. Walking around Kerala feels like traveling back in time to
an era before we were born. The state is highly regarded among academic circles
for its unique development model and it will be interesting to watch its
evolution during our lifetimes.
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