Kerala - People
Kerala is one of India's most progressive states in terms of social welfare and quality of life. The State boasts of one of India's highest literacy rates, highest life expectancy and lowest child mortality rates. The literacy rate for women in Kerala is one of the highest in all of Asia. Enjoying a unique cosmopolitan viewpoint, the people here, at all levels of society, have greater access to services and opportunities - as well as a greater say in their governance.
Population in the working age group 15-59 years have been growing at lower rate. Hence, due to increased life expectancy and better healthcare, population above 60 years of age will be larger in near future. Therefore, social security spending of the State government will be a matter of concern. Kerala’s literacy level is the highest among all the states at 94% of the population. However, learning outcome is not commensurate.
Kerala, the land famed for its spices, is known for welcoming people and cultures from far off lands and co-existing with them in harmony. Prior to India's independence, during the time of the princely states, the people of Kerala showed keen interest in education. Library movements and English medium schools set the tone for drawing more people to undergo formal education. This in turn, contributed to economic and social advancements in the society. Girls never faced any discrimination in education and were equally encouraged like boys.
The State once had a thriving agrarian culture and there used to be a time when the whole lifestyle of the people was influenced by agrarian practices, produce and seasons. Families in Kerala were once known for its matriarchal system. There was also a period when families jointly shared spaces and resources. But nowadays, this practice is fast getting replaced by nuclear families, the reasons of which has mostly to do with social and economic conveniences.
Kerala, best known as “God’s Own Country”, may be termed as a land of loving daughters. Daughters outnumber the sons and it has the highest sex ratio in India being the only state to have the ratio in favour of women at 1084 women per 1000 men as per the 2011 Census. Birth of a girl child is considered to be auspicious and God’s gift in Kerala. In fact, Kerala is the real example of realization of dreams and the embodiment of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (BBBP) campaign launched by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on January 22, 2015 at the historical place of Panipat in Haryana.
Owing to the former matrilineal system, women in Kerala enjoy a high social status. Birth of a girl is not considered to be a burden in Kerala compared to the general preference for male child prevalent in other parts of the country, leading to skewed sex ratio all over the country. Birth and survival rate, as well as education of girls are at the highest pedestal in Kerala in almost all the communities in the state irrespective of caste, creed, religion or region. Kerala is the number one state so far as “Save Daughter, Educate Daughter” (Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao) campaign is concerned. Kerala has really progressed and this is visible in all the fields of socio-economic and cultural development.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) have designated Kerala the World’s first ‘baby friendly state’ because of its effective promotion of breast feeding over formula milk preparations. Over 95% of births are hospital delivered and the state also has lowest infant mortality rate in the country. Kerala has been ranked first in ‘institutional deliveries’ with 100% births under medical facilities.
The traditional dressing of Kerala is marked by dhothi or mundu and shirt for men. Mundu and neryathu with kasavu (golden brocade) worn over a blouse is the traditional wear for women belonging to the Hindu community. Women of Christian faith wear a blouse called chatta and a mundu marked by a fan like folding at the back. And the women belonging to the Muslim community, mostly in the central and northern parts of Kerala usually wear a long purdah. Nowadays sarees, salwar-kameez and salwar with churidhar have become quite popular dress options for women. Modern trends in dressing is also fastly catching up with people of all age groups and gender in Kerala.
When it comes to food habits, members of the Hindu community, on special occasions like birthdays and marriages prepare traditional vegetarian feast called sadhya, which is served on plantain. For the Muslim community, it is Malabar biriyani that is served during festival and special occasions, while those following the Christian faith celebrate their auspicious and special occasions with dishes like appam, chicken and beef dishes, wine and cakes. On normal days, Keralites have idli, appam and puttu for breakfast which is made from rice. And for lunch they prefer to have rice, fish and vegetarian side-dishes like aviyal, thoran, sambar and puliseri which is also quite popular.
Celebrations in Kerala are marked by festivals and fairs. Its people, predominantly belonging to the Hindu, Christian and Muslims faiths, have co-existed through brotherhood and progressive thoughts. Being the case, festivals in Kerala are occasions for coming together of different religious faiths. Some of the age-old rituals and traditions of Kerala involve the presence and combined efforts of people from different religious faiths.
Kerala is one of India's most progressive States in terms of social welfare and quality of life. It has one of India's highest literacy rates, highest life expectancy and lowest child mortality rates. The literacy rate of women is one of the highest in Asia. Over the years, the people of Kerala have migrated to different parts of the world in search of jobs, study purposes and they even have settled down in foreign lands with their families.
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