KERALA OVERVIEW

Introduction

Kerala (Keralam in Malayalam), the name is derived from a combination of two words Kera, which means coconut tree and alam, which means land. Thus the land of coconut tree is known as Keralam. Another viewpoint is that Keralam is derived from the name of the ancient dynasty of Cheras, which once ruled the state. Therefore, the land of Cheras came to be known Cheralam, which later transformed into the present day Keralam.

The history of Kerala can be traced back to the early centuries of B.C. There is mention in the famous pillar edicts of Emperor Asoka. In the second and thirteenth pillar edicts of Asoka, it was engraved that the country of “Keralaputhra” is the boundary of Asoka’s empire in the south. Mentions are there about Kerala in epics like Mahabharatha, Ramayana, Sakandapurana, Bhagavatha and Matsyapurana. Reference of Kerala is there in the Reghuvamsa written by the great poet Kalidasa. Periplus, the Greek traveler recorded in his travelogue that the King of Kerala is “Keralabothros”. The early literary works viz., Unniyadicharitham, Leelathilakom, Chandrostsavam also cited the region known as Keralam. Kulasedhara Varma, who wrote the Subhadradhananjayam Drama, was also known as “Keralachoodamani”. All these show the existence of Kerala right from the ancient period. The region was also known by different names as Malabar, Malainadu, Malayalarahyam etc. It was Al-barooni, the Arabian traveler who first called Kerala as Malabar. He took Mala from Malayalam and Bbar (kingdom) from Arab to form the word Malabar.

Kerala is one of the smallest states situated in the southernmost part of India. Before independence, three administrators ruled Kerala - two princely states of Travancore and Cochin and the Malabar provinces, under the British Empire. In 1949, the Travancore and Cochin provinces, ruled by separate Kings were merged together. After independence, the State of Kerala was constituted uniting the Travancore-Cochin States and Malabar province under the States Re-organization Act of 1956. The state came into existence on 1st November 1956.

According to the 2001 census the total population of the state is 31838619. The density of population is 819 per sq. km. The ratio between male and female is 1000:1058. Kerala has attained cent percent literacy as early in 1980s.

Geography and Physical Features

The total area of the State is 38863 sq. km. The State is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and by the Western Ghats on the east. The neighboring states are Tamil Nadu on the east and south and Karnataka on the north and northeast. The length of seacoast is 580 km in the west and width from east to west differs from 10 km to 120 km. It has got an unique physical feature, which divides the state into three geographical divisions viz., Malanadau (Highland with hills and mountains), Idanadu (Midland or the Plains) and Theerapradesham (Lowland or coastal region). The Malanadu has a forest cover. However, there is a reduction in the area of forest consequent on the large scale deforestation and reclamation of land for agriculture or plantation purposes. It has 44 rivers originating from the Malanadu and flowing westwards, except three that are flowing eastwards, and connected with lakes and backwaters. The longest river is the Bharathapuzha (250 km).

The climate of the state is humid tropical. The state received good rainfall as part of the two monsoon seasons during in June-August (South-West monsoon) and in October-November (North-East monsoon). Temperature differs from region to region due to the physical features of the state and it decreases when proceeds from Theerapradesham to Malanadu.

Administration

The State has a unicameral legislature. The Legislature Assembly has 141 (140 elected and 1 nominated) members. Twenty elected members are representing Kerala in the Lok Sabha and 9 members in the Rajyasabha.

Kerala is divided into 14 administrative districts. They are Kasargode, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Eranakulam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. The districts are divided into 63 taluks and taluks are again divided into 1452 villages. Developmental activities are undertaken through 14 District Panchayats, 152 Block Panchayats and 991 Grama Panachyats. Kerala has five Municipal Corporations (Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode) and 53 Municipal towns.

Economy

Kerala has a unique cropping pattern. Tea, coffee, cardamom and pepper and other plantation crops are widely cultivated in the Malanadu. Coconut, pepper, rubber, paddy, tubers, cashew, mango, jack, and other tree crops are cultivated in the Idanadu. Coconut and paddy are grown on the Theerapradesham. It is also rich with mangroves and marshy places and maintains good estuarine conditions.

Kerala is the first state in India to introduce land reforms. The Land Reforms Act of 1964, which became effective from 1970 benefited more than 1,50,000 families. It altered the structure of ownership and cultivation pattern of the state. Since agriculture, as an occupation, has now become less income generative, most of such families who possessed land switched over to other occupations. On account of these, the state has developed production of cash crops instead of food crops. Thus, it has become a consumer state, which depends on neighboring states for rice, vegetables, pulses, eggs etc. However, Kerala produces more than 90 per cent of rubber and 70 per cent of coconut in the country. It is the single largest producer of crops like banana, ginger, coffee, tea and cardamom. It also contributes nearly one-third of India’s marine exports.

The traditional industries of Kerala such as Coir, Cashew and Handloom are facing serious difficulties due to various reasons. Though the state possesses basic requirements of industrial growth, it has notfully utilised its potentialities. The cash in-flow from Gulf Malayalees, contribute significantly towards the state’s economic conditions.