I don't think I conveyed it explicitly enough. When I wrote "...in a village in Kerala" I was referring to a farmer contemporary of Chanakya ~2500 years ago.

I don't think I conveyed it explicitly enough. When I wrote "...in a village in Kerala" I was referring to a farmer contemporary of Chanakya ~2500 years ago. That period of India fascinates me; dozen or so Janapadas ruling India. Specifically, day to day lives of people; how they felt about their identities vis-a-vis region/state/nation. Coming to your eloquently stated comment I 100% respect that and totally relate with your sentiment. In fact it more or less mirrors my life (growing up, being exposed to different cultures in college etc.,); except that I'm from a neighbouring southern state :-)