[wetha]

Here's an interesting trip down the rabbit hole -

Kerala, the state mentioned in the article, is surprisingly distinct from the rest of India. It has some of the highest literacy rates in India (something like 92%) and an HDI comparable to developed countries[1].

Historically, Kerala had trade relations with the levant, and Rome from antiquity, and has hosted a large jewish diaspora[2]. Kerala has also had its share of christian "immigrants", starting with the story of St.Thomas, to traditions about Syrian Christians settling in Kerala during the 4th century AD. [3] Plus, the traditional christian church in Kerala is the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox church [4], with its official language of liturgy being Syriac (a derivative of Aramaic).

Similarly, there is a very ancient muslim tradition in Kerala [5], including the very first mosque in India.

Kerala is also famous for a lot of its contribution to Hindu thought [6], while some traditions are markedly different from the rests of India[7].

Kerala also has its own martial art, which arguably predates the more famous chinese martial arts. [8]

Finally, IIRC, Kerala was never completely under British rule, but I'm not completely sure on this point.

All in all, a very fascinating place.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_model

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochin_Jews

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_of_Cana

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malankara_Jacobite_Syrian_Orth...

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Kerala

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_Kerala

[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nair

[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaripayattu

[kranner]

Allow me to balance the narrative here:

http://www.dailyo.in/variety/kerala-dogs-stray-animal-abuse-...

[someonenice]

Allow me to balance it here. Stray dog is a big issue in Kerala. Daily you read about an attack where a person is attacked brutally by stray dogs. And peak summer time is when they also carry rabies virus too. Most of the places kids are not allowed to play outside for fear of dog attack. With little support from the government, people are left with no other option than to kill them. Not sure why western media is so concerned about the life of a dog than a life of Chicken or goat or cow that are regularly killed.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/85-yr-old-mauled-to...

http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/stray-dog-attacks...

[kranner]

It's a big issue because the people of Kerala have made it an issue by attacking dogs on sight. They have indoctrinated their kids from childhood about the dangers of stray dogs, and how the only solution is to kill them. Of course you can't catch them and kill them all, all you end up doing is to make the remaining ones more fearful and likely to attack humans. It's not like dogs don't learn and adapt to the changing behaviour of the humans around them.

Every Indian state deals with stray dogs. Why are stray dog attacks reported as abnormally high in Kerala? Why is Kerala wilfully defying the Supreme Court's verdict on dealing with stray dogs (i.e. to sterilise them)?

> Not sure why western media is so concerned about the life of a dog than a life of Chicken or goat or cow that are regularly killed.

My antecedents are completely irrelevant to the issue. Everybody everywhere has the right to question the mass insanity that the people of Kerala are exhibiting w.r.t. this issue.

[plinkplonk]

excellent derailing of the thread. Thanks.

[kranner]

I would have left it alone except the thread was already derailed by the one-sided portrayal of Kerala as God's gift to Earth.