The People's History of Kerala

• When did the land of coconuts start farming coconut trees?
  
• How did Manipravalam - a rare mixture of Sanskrit and a Dravidian language- originate only in Kerala?
• Why does the caste hierarchy in Kerala have no Vaisyas unlike in other parts of India?
• Was Kerala very poor even when there were trade relations with most parts of the world?
• Did the Ezhavas come from Eelam?
• When did Kerala start importing rice to feed its people?
  
• How did my ancestors live? What kind of food were they eating? What kind of clothes were they wearing? What kind of things did they believe in? What kind of language did they speak?
  

If you ever managed to read an official version of the Kerala History, you will be amused to see that it is nothing but a collection of who ruled us and when. If you read it more closely, even this vague list of our past rulers will turn out to be based on mere speculation at best. No wonder then that history is one of the most hated subjects in our schools. But, have you ever wondered how our ancestors lived, where they lived and even where they came from to this narrow strip of land caught between the devil and the deep sea?

May be, perhaps may be, wondering about the real history of the people of Kerala might make us more interested in understanding the nuances of our legacy. This is such a humble attempt.