Kerala: A State Study Guide

Kerala is a region where everything is dynamic. With its beautiful land, educated people and rich culture Kerala is unique in many ways. Kerala has been witnessing major changes since 1991 as a result of various structural adjustment programmes initiated by the Central and State Governments as a part of economic reforms. Kerala is a state on the southwestern, Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956 following the States Reorganisation Act by combining Malayalam-speaking regions. Spread over 38,863 km (15,005 sq mi), Kerala is the twenty second largest Indian state by area. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea and Arabian Sea to the west. With 33,387,677 inhabitants as per the 2011 Census, Kerala is the thirteenth-largest Indian state by population. It is divided into 14 districts with the capital and largest city being Thiruvananthapuram. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state. The culture of Kerala is a synthesis of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, developed and mixed for centuries, under influences from other parts of India and abroad.

It is defined by its antiquity and the organic continuity sustained by the Malayali people. The Government of Kerala was formed on November 1, 1956 after merging of State of Travancore-Cochin with the Malabar district of the Madras state as part of States Reorganisation Act, 1956. Kerala has a unique position in India as one of the most politicised states. It has the nation’s largest politically aware population, which actively participates in state politics. This book provides a concise and lucid outline of the history of Kerala from the earliest period to the present, encompassing even the latest researches.