Know Your State Kerala – Kerala General Knowledge Notes 2021 (Part 2)

In the previous disquisition, we held a firm grip on the Cultural, Geographical and Political aspects of Kerala. If you haven’t read that already, click here – Know your State ‘Kerala’ – Part 1. Now let’s proceed further and explore the other vital aspects of Kerala i.e. History, Environment and Economy.

Where is India’s first arch Dam situated? Which part of India is known as the Queen of Arabian Sea? In 1991, which state became the first fully literate state?

Kerala is known as the “Land of Coconut Trees” because we can see coconuts everywhere in the state. It is a very prominent state in India, known as the “God’s Own Country” is a coastal state. Kerala is a green heaven with sizzling backwaters, ethnic houseboats, and long sensuous coastline.  Kerala is a tourist destination attracting people by its natural beauty. The other main centres of attraction in Kerala are the museum, boathouses and islands.

Let’s start off with the first aspect of Kerala i.e. History.

HISTORY Kerala General Knowledge Notes:

Kerala is one of the most progressive and developing states in the country. It was the first state in the world to democratically elect a communist government in 1957 and today, after 60 years it still exists as one of the few left-reigned states in India. But there is limited information available about the ancient period of Kerala history. This is because neither there is any written record left from the time nor there is enough evidence to prove them. There are many myths and speculations about the creation of Kerala and its early periods.

According to Hindu mythology, Kerala was created by Parasuram, one of the incarnations of Mahavishnu. Geologists believe that Kerala was formed by some seismic activity, gradually or suddenly.

Ancient History Kerala General Knowledge Notes :

Kerala is first mentioned as Keralaputra in a 3^rd century BCE rock inscription left by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. In the last centuries BCE, this region became famous among the Greeks and Romans for its spices. During the first five centuries CE, the region was a part of the territory of the Tamils and thus was sometimes partially controlled by the eastern Pandya and Chola dynasties, as well as by the Cheras. In the 1st century Jewish immigrants arrived, and, according to Syrian Orthodox Christians, St. Thomas the Apostle visited Kerala in the same century.

Medieval History:

Much of Kerala’s history from the 6th to the 8th century is hazy, but it is known that Arab traders introduced Islam later in the period. Under the Kulashekhara dynasty, Malayalam emerged as a distinct language, and Hinduism became prominent.

• The Cholas often controlled Kerala during the 11th and 12th centuries. By the starting of the 14th century, Ravi Varma Kulashekhara of the Venad kingdom built a short-lived primacy over southern India. After his death, Kerala became a cluster of quarrelling billet, among which the most important were Kozhikode in the north and Venad in the south.
• Portuguese invasions in the 15th century caused two major religions, Buddhism and Jainism, to disappear from the land.
•  In the 18th Century, Travancore King Sree Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma conquers all the kingdoms up to Northern Kerala through military conquests, resulting in the rise of Travancore to superiority in Kerala. The Kochi ruler entreated for peace with Anizham Thirunal and Malabar came under direct British rule until India became independent.

Colonial Era:

• The era of foreign intervention began in 1498 when Vasco da Gama landed near Calicut. In the 16th century, the Portuguese took the place of the Arab traders and tyrannized trading of the Malabar coasts. Their attempt to establish sovereignty was opposed by the hereditary ruler of Calicut.
• The Dutch expelled the Portuguese in the 17th century. Marthanda Varma ascended the Venad throne in 1729 and crushed Dutch expansionist designs at the Battle of Kolachel 12 years later.
•  Marthanda Varma then adopted a European mode of martial discipline and expanded the Venad domain to encompass what became the southern state of Travancore. His alliance in 1757 with the raja of the central state of Cochin, against the zamorin, enabled Cochin to survive.
• By 1806, however, Cochin and Travancore, as well as the Malabar Coast in the north, had become subject states under the British Madras Presidency.
• It is the home to the Mysore dynasty ruled by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan who fought four battles with the Britishers.

Post-Colonial Period:

• Two years after India’s independence was achieved in 1947, in 1949 Cochin and Travancore were united as Travancore-Cochin state presently known as Kerala.
• The present state of Kerala was constituted on a linguistic basis in 1956 when the Malabar Coast and administrative subdivision of South Karana were added to Travancore-Cochin.
•  The southern portion of the former Travancore-Cochin state was attached to Tamil Nadu.
• In 1991, Kerala became the first fully literate state.
• Kerala Day is referred to as Kerala Piravi, marks the birth of the state of Kerala in Southern India on 1 November 1956.

Let’s explore another aspect of Kerala i.e. Environment.

ENVIRONMENT Kerala General Knowledge Notes:

Kerala is described as the favourite child of nature, and famous for its breath-taking natural beauty. It is famous for its Ayurveda treatments, high mountains, gorges and deep-cut valley, lush and evergreen rain forest, beautiful lakes and coconuts water and oil and foods items. Kerala is one of the greenest places ever seen. The state has a rich culture in Flora and Fauna.

•  Kerala is the only state in India where the highest numbers of Indian elephants are found. The land of elephants shares their habitat with Panthera, King Cobra and other wild animals.
• Kerala is blessed with the Western Ghats which are home to one of the eight hottest hotspots in the world. The best places for wild animals are Silent Valley, Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, which is situated high in the ranges of the Western Ghat.
• Kerala is a treasure house of flora and fauna and boasts 5 national parks and 18 wildlife sanctuaries.
• Eravikulam is the first and largest national park in Kerala.
• The famous Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is located in Kerala was the first bird sanctuary in the state.
• Konni was the first forest reserve in Kerala.
• Periyar wildlife sanctuary is the first wildlife sanctuary built in Kerala.
• Agasthyavanam is located in Kerala was the first biological park in India.
• There are 34 lakes and 44 rivers in Kerala. Out of 44 Rivers, 41 flows westward and the remaining 3 flows to east. Periyar, Pamba, Chaliyar, Kalada, etc. flow westwards while Pambar, Bhawani and Kabani flow eastwards.
•  Vembanad Lake situated in Kerala is India’s longest lake.
•  Sasthamkotta Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala.
• Periyar is the longest river in Kerala.
• The Idukki dam is the first Indian arch dam in Periyar River, Kerala and the largest arch dam in Asia. Kuthumkal in Idukki district is the biggest private-sector hydro-electric project of Kerala.
•  Mattupetti was the first concrete dam built in Kerala.
• Thenmala of Kerala was the first eco-tourism project in India. It is a dam with the largest reservoir in the state.
• It is home to an enormous quantity of herbs with medicinal properties such as Bharangi, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Amalaki, and Phyllanthus Amarus etc.
• Kerala is home to some of the rarest wetlands, prominently the three wetland sites: Sasthamkotta Lake, Vembanad-Kol Wetland, and Ashtamudi Lake. These sites play vital ecological roles and are among the best-preserved secrets of the state.
• Kannimari in Malappuram, Kerala is the oldest tree in the world. Besides its environmental importance, it is also worshipped by many tribes living in the area.

Let’s focus on the last aspect of Kerala i.e. Economy.

ECONOMY Kerala General Knowledge Notes:

Kerala was a model for high human development at low incomes. But in recent years the income levels also have risen. Kerala is gradually shifting from an agrarian economy to a market economy. Kerala has been through a period of strong growth with one of the highest per-capita income and poverty levels are extremely low compared to elsewhere in India.

• Agriculture is the state’s main economic activity. Agriculture is highly focused on high value cash-crop cultivation such as rubber, tea, coffee, spices and coconut plantations. Commercial poultry farming is well developed.
• Coconut plantation plays a vital role in the economy of Kerala. Around 7.70 lakh hectares of cultivated area in the state is used for coconut plantation.  
• Tourism is now a booming industry in Kerala and accounts for a significant part of the state’s economy.
• In addition, Kerala has a very powerful service sector such as banking & financial services, education, medicine & healthcare, entertainment, real estate, retail, logistics and trade, etc. which drives the economy in a very big way.
• The state is especially known for its high-quality china clay, whichis used to make porcelain.
•  Kerala has the highest per capita alcohol consumption in the country. According to a BBC study, Kerala’s alcohol consumption amounts to over 8 litres per person every year more than Punjab and Haryana.
• Kerala, the state that supplies a gigantic amount of the total global white coir fiber, is home to the first-ever coir factory in India. This factory was set up in Alleppey in 1859.

GDP: ₹7.82 lakh crore

Rank (as per GDP): 10^th

GDP Growth: 11.6% (2018-19)

Per capita GDP: ₹225,484

Rank (per capita GDP): 6^th

Sector-wise GDP: Agriculture:  11 %, Industry: 25%, Services: 64% (2018-19)

Revenues: ₹ 1.15 lakh crore

Unemployment: 11.4% (2017-18)

EDUCATION Kerala General Knowledge Notes:

Kerala boasts the highest literacy rate in India. It has a literacy rate of 93.91% according to the census of 2011. The town of Pathanamthitta has a literacy rate of 97.42%. Kerala became the first state in 2016 to have achieved 100% primary education through its literacy program called Athulyam. Holy Angels Convent, established in 1888, is the first girls’ high school in south India. Ammathottil was launched at Trivandrum in 2002 which is a government initiative that provides care and services for abandoned children. Kerala has a Fisheries University with the name of Kerala Fisheries University located in Ernakulam.

SPORTS Kerala General Knowledge Notes:

Kerala is known for its variety of sports and games and each sports event is like a festival, the spirit of which is felt for miles and miles. Some of the traditional sports and games that are still played in Kerala are Kuttiyumkolum, Pallanguzhi, Kalari, Mud football, etc.

Here are some more interesting facts about KERALA:

• Kerala is the first state in the country with 4 operational international airports which are located in Cochin, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur.
• Kerala is the only state in the country that has an institutional delivery rate of 99.9%. National Family Health Survey said that in Kerala, almost all of the infants are born in medical institutions and hospitals.
• Muzhappilangad Beach in Kerala is the longest drive-in beach in Asia. It runs parallel to NH-66. This beach is also ranked amongst the world’s top 6 beaches for driving by BBC.
• Anju Bobby George of Kerala was the first Malayali woman gold medalist in the world Athletic Championship.
• The launch of the first sounding rocket which marked the start of the Indian Space Program was from Thumba, Kerala in 1963.
• Kochi, also known as Cochin in Kerala is called the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’.

Therefore, this was all the necessary information about Kerala that will help you in your preparation for competitive exams like SSC CGL, CDS, Civil Services and NDA etc. In the next blog, we would be discussing some interesting facts and trivia about the state of Madhya Pradesh. Click here for Know your State – ‘Madhya Pradesh’.

If you wish to read about South Indian states, you can click on the links given below:

Click on Know your State ‘Andra Pradesh’, Know your State ‘Tamil Nadu’, Know your State ‘Telangana’, Know your State ‘Karnataka’.

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