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About Kerala |
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We are not certain if Kerala was inhabited during Neolithic times, but we have evidences that support inhabitation a thousand years before the beginning of the present era. We have found prehistoric pottery and remains of burial monuments that are made of granite and show much similarity with what have been found in Western Europe and many parts of Asia. These findings are nothing but an indication that Kerala has a long history of civilizations that originated in the prehistorical era. A mythological tale attribute the foundation of this southern most state of the country to Mavavishnu when he appeared on the earth in the avatar of Parasurama. Another legend associates it with an Asura known as Mahabali, and the celebration of Onam, each year in Kerala with much fanfare, is a way to commemorate his mythic rule over the region.
Kerala's ancient past shows close affinity with the Tamil language, culture and ethnicity professed by the inhabitants of the region covered by the present Tamilnadu. In fact, both the regions were considered as one and were parts of what was known as Tamilakam in antiquity.
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The recorded history of Kerala began with the Tamil speaking Cheras, who were found to be at wars with their contemporaries the Pandyas and the Cholas. The origin of Kerala and its own separate identity, different from the Tamils, can be traced back to the second Chera empire. However, it was not before the coming of the Kalusekhara dynasty in the eighth century that the identity of Kerala as a separate linguistic entity was established in full.
Kerala is known to merchants and traders of several countries since the time of the Cheras. The main purpose of their visit was trade, nevertheless some of them sought permanent dwelling here and founded coastal posts and residential settlements in the region. These visitors, though visited at different periods of time, varied greatly in creed, culture and religion. They assimilated with local populations and ultimately became one among them. The Jews, Christian and Muslim migrants from different parts of the world and in different time periods came here and became a Keralite in true sense by adopting its language and lifestyle. Even today, they are seen to be living amicably and they are distinguishable only by the way they address to the typical requirements of their religious and cultural beliefs.
As a flourishing center of maritime trade, Kerala was the first in India to be visited by an European during the colonial era. The new route that connected India with the western world was discovered by the famous Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama who landed at Calicut in 1498. The Portuguese were driven out by the Dutch who themselves suffered defeat at the hands of Marthanda Varma of the Travancore Royal Family in the battle of Colachel in 1741. When Hyder Ali and later his son Tipu Sultan rose into power to challenge the might of the British, Kerala became a battleground and two of the four Anglo-Mysore Wars were fought here. Finally the British prevailed and it merged Malabar and South Canara with the Madras Presidency. Kochi and Travancore entered into tributary alliances with the British and gained autonomy as princely states.
The independence movement in Kerala was carried out by nationalists, like Velayudan Thampi Dalava, Pazhassi Raja and Kunjali Marakar, whereas leaders like Vaikunda Swami, Chattampi Swamikal and Sree Narayana Guru played important roles in freeing the society from the shackles of untouchability and several other social evils. The Moplah Rebellion in 1921 and Punnapra-Vayalar revolt in 1946 were the outcome of the nationalistic sentiments of the common people. After independence, The princely states of Travancore and Cochin were merged together to be recognized as a separate state. When Indian states were reorganized on linguistic lines in 1956, Malabar district, South Canara and the taluk of Kasargod were merged with the Travancore-Cochin state to create a new state to be known as Kerala.
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