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Keralites penchant for travel contributes to Kerala model of development

Exposure to the various cultures of the world helps you become a better person and encourages you to bring positive changes around you. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s exposure to various cultures and interactions with people of different communities influenced him tremendously.

After fighting against injustice and class division in South Africa he returned to India to deliver the country from subjugation. He used to dress in the impeccable well-tailored suits, in England, later became a ‘half-naked fakir’ in a dhoti. Thanks to his exposure to the world he returned to lead the country to freedom.

There are so many stories of great men in the ancient and modern days whose travelling changed their life. Prince Siddhartha who travelled to see his kingdom was enlightened and became Sri Buddha.

A woman from Dindigul in Tamil Nadu was astonished that I did not know Tamil. She asked ‘how can anyone survive in this world without knowing Tamil’. She is one of the millions of people in the world who have never travelled out of their hometown. For them, there is nothing beyond their town, which is their world.

The Britishers who dared to leave their native town and travel to India during colonisation returned wealthy. Travelling makes you rich in terms of the wealth of knowledge, treasured memories, financial benefits and so no.

Travelling not only benefits the person but his/her community as well. Perhaps his/her State as a whole.  For instance the story of the State of Kerala. You might have heard of ‘Kerala model of Development’ which happened as a result of Keralites penchant for travel in search of greener pastures.

The travelling stories of Keralites did not begin with the Gulf Exodus around four decades ago. Keralites travelling history is dated back to the Maritime trade with Mesopotamia.

As you can find Keralites in every nook and cranny of the world, so you can find the reminiscence of various countries and cultures in Kerala.

Reminiscence of ancient cultures in India

The Uru, the large dhow type wooden ship made in Kerala, has been used by the Arabs for trade. The relation between the Uru, Beypore in Kerala, and the Arabs dates back to thousands of years old. It is said that the boats were used even in Roman sea fares.

Keralites penchant for travel

The arrival and departure of ships brought with it many historical people and cultures that shaped the history of Kerala. St Thomas the disciple of Jesus came to Kerala by the ships from Gulf. He came to work as a carpenter for a King. Vasco de Gama the first of the European coloniser, from Portuguese landed in Kerala, on 20th May, 1498. So did the Muslims and the Jews, who were fleeing their country.

Keralites penchant for travelRemnants of Buddhism are also found in Kerala. In my hometown, Mavelikara, there is a Statue of Buddha. Some temple traditions have a resemblance to the bygone Buddhist tradition.

It is said that Colombus discovered America while he was trying to find the spice route to India.

Keralites have always been migrating and they have always welcomed foreigners to Kerala. Whoever comes to Kerala and stays back becomes a Keralite and contributes to the society. Rev. Dr. Hermann Gundert, a German Missionary, who stayed in Kerala for two decades compiled the first Malayalam grammar book.

Laurie Baker a British-born India architect built low-cost, high-quality houses in Kerala. The low-cost houses not only benefitted the poor, but the rich also built low-cost Laurie Baker houses for its beauty and environment benefits.Keralites penchant for travel


Fast forward to the Modern days

Keralites have been always going out to other states and countries to work. In 1640’s and 50’s, they went to Burma and Singapore. By the 1960’s they started emigrating to the Gulf countries.

Some say that it was poverty that drove the Malayalees to abandon they native place.

Keralites never abandon their homeland. They come back with the mission to improve the state of affairs in Kerala. And it was not the poorest who left their homes. It was the well to do and the educated who wanted to explore better opportunities to harness their talents and skills.

What makes Kerala so unique?

The success of the Kerala model of development is because they #SayYesToTheWorld. Kerala has 94% literacy and Human Development Index (HDI) on par with many developed nations.

Wherever they went Keralites contributed to the development of that country. The render their dedicated services as Nurses, Doctors, Engineers, Accountants and so on. Wherever I travel people tell that Malayalee people, unlike me, are friendly, sincere, trustworthy, hardworking and loyal.

How Kerala evolve over the past few decades

Food has changed

My grandfather who had a staple diet of rice started having wheat flour roti for dinner in 1985. And now in 2018, my elderly parents have Oats for breakfast and atta roti for dinner. Rice only for lunch.

I remember my aunt, who has hardly travelled outside Kerala and used to abhor anything other than Kerala’s authentic food. In the last two decades, she has changed. She enjoys pastries, cakes, shawarmas and colas.

Dressing has Changed

In the early 90’s my cousins used to wear only the sari when they go to college. In school, they wore long skirt and blouse. In pre-college half sari and sari in college sari, that was the order. By 1993 churidar or salwar kameez became the trend in colleges. Yet you could never dare to wear Jeans. Now 25 years later no one cares what the other person wears.

Travelling in the Night

Traditionally Keralites wake up at 4 in the morning, have supper at 7 in the evening and sleep by 8 in the night. After the Keralites started staying abroad and in the cities, where the day starts only at 8 in the night, the night travelling culture is routine now.

Minding one’s own business

There was a time in Kerala when if a car came to your house neighbours will be asking or guess the reason for the arrival of the guest. If you walk on the road we have to give a valid reason for the purpose of the walk to every person you meet. If you eat out you have to give a reason why no food was made at home. And if you go out as a family you have to mention the occasion.

For those who stay abroad, such questions are irritating. Now Kerala has changed. Since most of the families are exposed to the world in one way or the other, they do not ask uncomfortable questions anymore.

No more Cultural Shocks

The exposure to various cultures has reduced their cultural shocks. They have become open-minded.

In the 1990’s if a foreigner came to our village people gathered around them as if they were Aliens. And they feared that if they touch them they will get AIDS

Now many families are providing home stays and they are ok with the arayum muriyum (scantily) dressed foreigners.

Keralites have a very conservative family value system. Yet now our elderly uncles and aunts accept their foreign guest as they are without meddling with questions about their family life.

Keralites penchant for travel

How change came to the Kerala Society?

The change in the Kerala society came because Keralites became world travellers for work and for leisure.

There is hardly any home in Kerala which does not have someone working abroad. Most of the Keralites have travelled abroad or at least to another state because their children or siblings are working there.

Travelling to other countries and welcoming foreigner in Kerala, has made Keralites more understanding to other cultures. When they go to a hospital, school or a mall in Europe or Gulf, they want the same facilities in their hometown. The rich and enterprising ones will invest their money and build world-class facilities in their hometown.

If we do not travel we are like a frog in the well. We think we are the best and there is no scope for improvement. When we travel we understand our deficiencies. We can learn and improve our standard of life.

(Kerala State was born on November 1, 1956, with the union of Travancore and Kochi Kingdoms.  In the ancient time, there were several kingdoms like the Cholas, Cheras and the Pandyas. But Kerala has some unifying factors which kept them united from the ancient to modern times.) 

5 ways for #CuttingPaani usage at home

Every Mumbaikar knows the meaning of, ‘Cutting Chai’. For the rest of the world, cutting chai means half a cup of tea that is cheaper than a full cup’ yet enough to get refreshed.

Now Livpure has started a campaign #CuttingPaani to spread awareness about the rising shortage of potable water globally. CuttingPaani means – drink as much you thrist. If thirst is little, then drink only half a glass of water.

A small but impactful campaign to make each person responsible to take steps to preserve drinking water.

When one hears of the water crisis, the first picture that comes to mind is of the viral news of the water shortage in Cape Town. A city with 4 million people provides just 50-litre water per day for a person.

In the US a person gets 350 litres of water per day. And very soon, a ‘zero-day’ will arrive in Cape Town when one million households in the city will not get any running water.

What is happening in Cape Town, is a bleak story of what every city in the world can expect. Interestingly, one reason for the water crisis according to reports is ‘poor water management’ and ‘insufficient preparation’.

We fear there will be Zero-day in Bengaluru. According to reports if the rainwater is harvested properly, the water crisis in Bengaluru can be managed. Which means if we manage our water we can avoid the zero-day.

Cuttingpaani is the first initiative in the direction of saving water. We can save water by #cuttingpaani in a number of our activities at home.

Drink less water in the night


One must drink 3 to 4 litres of water in a day. But the majority should be consumed in the daytime. Having more water in the night may lead to kidney and other ailments.

No water-thirsty plants at home


You might have indoor plants, outdoor plants and kitchen gardens at home. Some plants like Cactus family and aloe vera require very little water. Some plants and soils require water only to be sprayed. Keep only those plants at home that requires hardly any water.

Avoid using tap water directly


For bathing use bucket and mug. For brushing and shaving use water in a mug. Wash dishes by taking water in a small basin. Avoiding tap water usage directly saves a lot of water.

Handwash some clothes


Handwashing requires only that much water as is required in the first round of washing in a washing machine. For a washing machine, at least 12 to 15 buckets of water is for three rounds – one washing and two rinsing sessions. Whereas in hand wash the whole activity will be over in 3 buckets of water.

Mop the veranda floor, do not wash


A common view in Indian cities is to see hose pipe with running water being used to clean veranda. Mostly maids just waist the water pouring the water on all the vehicles, plants, gates and so on. Using a hosepipe to clean is an easy but water-wasting method of cleaning. Mop the veranda floor to save water.

If we use our resources more reasonably and collectively we can avoid a zero-day.

Also, sing the petition for CuttingPaani to spread the awareness to fill the glass with only as much water as you have thirst. Watch the video to know more about the campaign.

Dengue symptoms and ways to prevent it

[featured_post limit="10"] Dengue is one disease that afflicts the rich and the famous also. Which means that the cause of the disease is not just maintaining cleanliness in our homes or stay in a plush area.

Then how can we prevent dengue?

Dengue is spread by the bite of the female Aedes aegypti mosquito. When the mosquito bites, the virus multiplies in the human being; and the disease can be transmitted to others also.

Remove clogged water

Dengue mosquitoes breed in water clogged areas. In the homes, there are a number of sources of water clogging areas. The water in the flower pots, cooler trays, refrigerator trays and used tyres can serve as breeding ground for the mosquitoes.

In addition to maintaining hygiene in our homes, we must ensure that water is not stored openly in any container in and around our homes.

Cover your body to prevent mosquito bites

The dengue vector bites in the two hours after sunrise and for few hours before sunset. So we must ensure that we are well covered. Children, when they go out of the house, should be made to cover their hand and legs properly.

Most of the dengue mosquito bites happen outside the house. So we need to take necessary precaution to prevent the bite of the mosquitoes.

Use effective mosquito repellants inside and outside the homes

Good knight Active+, liquid mosquito repellant, is a common household name when it comes to preventing mosquito bites. When dengue virus becomes widespread, especially during cool weather, people start using more of Good knight Mosquito repellants.

Mosquito repellants are used in the daytime also to keep away the dangerous vectors. Most people use one repellant each for every room in the house.

The Good Knight repellent has a strong odour which prevents the mosquitoes from coming near the place where the repellent is in use.dengue symptoms

Every product of Good knight works has the property of repelling the mosquitoes from coming near the object which the repellent is applied on. So there are products of GoodKnight like the GoodKnight Fabric Roll-on, where four dots of the roll-on is applied on the fabric and not on the skin. And in this way, the mosquito is prevented from the person.

dengue symptomsdengue symptoms







Dengue Fever symptoms and treatment

A person can be doubted to have dengue symptoms if there is high fever, combined with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting.

The same mosquitoes that spread the dengue also spread the Zika Virus. But Zika is less dangerous and usually, the virus is found in those who travel to different countries.

Dengue, a disease that was found only in a few countries has spread to over 120 countries. To repel the dangerous Aedes aegypti mosquito bites, secure your family, your body, home and surrounding by using mosquito repellant Good Knight products.

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Believe it or not! Myntra App can keep the Doctor Away

It’s burning like a furnace out there this Summer and so after work there is only one option which is to rush back home and cool yourself. So what about all the Summer shopping that has to be done for garments and accessories…………………Download Myntra App and do all the shopping in the comfort of your Home, Office or Metro……….

Five reasons why you must download Myntra App for Shopping:

No need to go out in the burning Sun

You are not only saved from the scorching heat and sweat, but also the expense incurred on drinks and transportation.

The App is all kinds of your favourite shopping hangouts at the fingertip

You get all the option on your fingertips –  Casuals, Formals, Party Wears, so you don’t have to decide on which shop to go based on the kind of shopping you want to make.

Make as many selections as you want

As you are shopping at leisure, seated comfortably and enjoying a snack you can select without exhaustion for hours together.

No need to get stifled by the sweaty crowd

When Myntra announces a bumper discount sale, you can coolly select your products without being pushed around by the crowd.

World Fashion at your doorstep

Myntra App Opens the door to  some of the biggest Signature Brands of India, in whose Showroom you wouldn’t dare to enter in a Mall fearing the exuberant price tags. Have a sneaky peaky  at those Celebrity Brands using Myntra Apps  and you might be lucky to Grab some jaw dropping offers.