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I was born in the US but my parents are from Kerala and I still have family there that I visit. One thing I found interesting was the pride in literacy and edu

I was born in the US but my parents are from Kerala and I still have family there that I visit. One thing I found interesting was the pride in literacy and education. Kerala has a 96% literacy rate which is the highest in India [1]. It's one of my favorite places to visit. Unlike other parts of India such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderbad -- it's tropical and lush with much less pollution than what you might see in those other parts of India. My parents have a home in a rural community which hasn't changed much in the past few decades compared to somewhere like Bengaluru. It's quiet and slow with a high important on family relationships. No doubt it's westernizing, albeit slower than other parts of India - but for now it still holds much of the charm I've known since I was a kid. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_in_India https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_in_India

vinay427 2y ago
> Unlike other parts of India such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderbad -- it's tropical and lush with much less pollution than what you might see in those other parts of India. Somewhat ironically these are relatively low pollution as large cities in India go. There is still a good amount of greenery in Bengaluru (it is famous for it) but obviously far less than a few decades ago, as many residents lament.
- fakedang 2y ago
  Bangalore today is a shadow compared to the Garden City it once was. For outsiders not in the know, Bangalore was famous for its beautiful lakes and the lush greenery around them. It was absolutely something else, finding these beautiful water bodies smack in the middle of what is supposed to be a major city. The weather was cool, almost like a warm European summer (which is extremely cool by Indian standards). Then they got greedy, drained the lakes, built real estate and office properties on them and now Bangalore is an unbearable cesspit just like any other Indian city. Bad weather, bad traffic and a shit scenery. I still have some photos of my visits to Bangalore in my childhood a couple of decades back, and the visual contrast between past and present is so stark. Of course, locals love to resent the regression of the city, but they also love their coin.
  - intended 2y ago
    Hey, Mumbai folks will fight you for supremacy on bad scenery. Course we concede the actual crown to our dearest friends in Delhi.
    - fakedang 2y ago
      I'll be honest, Mumbai is still very scenic, and I say that as someone from Kerala. Marine Drive and the Colaba area really have a very Bombay-days vibe even after all the changes in the area. While Sealink does ruin the sea views a bit, it's still not a grotesque mark on the scenery. To be honest, my only relatively poor experience in Bombay in terms of scenery was in the Four Seasons hotel in Worli, when I could get a nice view of couples going at it on the rooftops of the chawl nearby, somehow appropriately from my bathroom window. Delhi does have its own charms too. Assuming you're a strong enough male, it's worth exploring South Delhi on foot solo over autumns, winters and spring, just immersing in the city. Obviously face mask recommended and not recommended for ladies.
  - Sammi 2y ago
    I'm not usually not the type to be preoccupied with green policy, but this was heart wrenching to hear.
  - anon291 2y ago
    My family is part of the indigenous people of Mumbai, and my mom and dad's pictures of their childhood homes and stories are almost unbelievable if you visit now. My grandparents old bungalow is still on google maps, now surrounded by skyscrapers, but in the pictures, it's all fields and trees.
  - hammock 2y ago
    I had no idea and thank you for sharing. Why did it fall apart?
    - momojo 2y ago
      Source: Grad student from Bengalaru I got lunch with. It became India's Silicon Valley. Acecnture. Infosys. Western IT money came pouring in and never stopped. https://www.businessinsider.com/india-silicon-valley-bengaluru-under-pressure-2024-12 https://www.businessinsider.com/india-silicon-valley-bengalu...
p3rls 2y ago
[flagged]
- totalkikedeath 2y ago
  [dead]
ignoramous 2y ago
Like many in the diaspora, you may have a romantic view of your roots. > much less pollution Comparatively? Perhaps. One look at the Vembanad Lake and you'll know what I'm talking about: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/high-levels-of-faecal-contamination-reported-in-vembanad-lake/article66707746.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/high-levels-of-fa... It stinks these days. > Kerala has a 96% literacy rate Lieracy surveys aren't as rigorous; likely 5% to 20% drop from reported numbers: https://www.dataforindia.com/measuring-literacy/ https://www.dataforindia.com/measuring-literacy/ > still holds much of the charm As someone who visited Kerala multiple times a year, things have gotten worse both climate wise & pollution wise. Though, the monsoon gods still bless Kerala, it isn't as green as it used to be. I've found (under similar climatic conditions) the Sri Lankan lowlands (West coast) to be more greener. Ditto for rainforests of NE India & SE Asia.
- guerrilla 2y ago
  > Lieracy surveys aren't as rigorous; likely 5% to 20% drop from reported numbers: https://www.dataforindia.com/measuring-literacy/ https://www.dataforindia.com/measuring-literacy/ This is very well studied in sociology and anthropology and has been for many decades. Kerala is a major case study in many fields because of this.
  - 0xbadcafebee 2y ago
    To add to this: the most recent "96.2% literacy" estimate is based on a 2017 survey (not the 2011 census) where they interviewed a little over 2500 households in Kerala, though there are 7.7 million households there. I'm not a statistician, but this feels like too small of a sample size to make a definitive estimation. In addition, other states got very close to that literacy rate, but are probably managed quite differently to Kerala. Worth considering if people want to try to replicate Kerala's efforts without considering the wider context
    - kelipso 2y ago
      Most of the literacy education efforts started in the 1800s in Kerala. For example, > Education in Kerala has deep historical roots, dating back to the rule of local dynasties and the influence of colonial missionaries. The rulers of Travancore and Cochin played a crucial role in establishing schools and promoting learning, especially among marginalized communities. The British and Christian missionaries also made significant contributions by setting up institutions that emphasized modern education. > In 1817, the Travancore government issued a royal decree stating that education should be provided to all, including women and lower castes. By the early 20th century, Kerala had already built a strong foundation for literacy, ensuring that access to education was widespread. https://livekerala.com/blog/how-kerala-became-indias-most-literate-state/ https://livekerala.com/blog/how-kerala-became-indias-most-li...
not_kurt_godel 2y ago
The connection between education and wealth is very strong. Very sad that the US has decided to pursue a trajectory towards poverty in this area.
- mc32 2y ago
  In popular US culture the pursuit of wealth, is framed as crass. Movies that some see as promoting wealth accumulation are often actually critiques against wealth. Also, since the mid 60s pop culture has embraced the slacker as being hip and cool. They guy and gal trying to get ahead are portrayed as greedy or at best blindly joining a rat-race forgoing more noble pursuits. Not so for many other cultures.
  - paulluuk 2y ago
    I think that in almost all western countries, a life spent entirely on hoarding wealth for the sake of wealth, is considered a sad life. Especially if you don't even have any loved ones to share your wealth with. I think the same it true for most of Latin america, where many of my friends and colleagues are from. And when I was in Nepal they thought that, if anything, western people are way too much focused on gathering wealth. Islam specifically rejects hoarding wealth, so I think that pretty much takes out most of the middle east and northern africa. So I'm curious which other cultures you are referring to. Perhaps specifically Indian and Chinese culture?
    - nick__m 2y ago
      Islam specifically rejects hoarding wealth, so I think that pretty much takes out most of the middle east I don't know much about religions but I don't believe it is that clearly delineated. How would you explain Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, from my limited vantage point they seem pretty much all in on their religion. Are they practicing a perverse form of Islam like the Christian who practice prosperity gospel?
      - blululu 2y ago
orochimaaru 2y ago
I think the focus on literacy is laudable. However, as the article points out the wealth isn’t locally generated, it is basically folks going out to gulf states sending back remittances. So while literacy has helped that there is not much to be said for local industry. I don’t see any startup tech or manufacturing in India falling over themselves to start in Kerala.

vinay427 2y ago

> Unlike other parts of India such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderbad -- it's tropical and lush with much less pollution than what you might see in those other parts of India. Somewhat ironically these are relatively low pollution as large cities in India go. There is still a good amount of greenery in Bengaluru (it is famous for it) but obviously far less than a few decades ago, as many residents lament.

fakedang 2y ago
Bangalore today is a shadow compared to the Garden City it once was. For outsiders not in the know, Bangalore was famous for its beautiful lakes and the lush greenery around them. It was absolutely something else, finding these beautiful water bodies smack in the middle of what is supposed to be a major city. The weather was cool, almost like a warm European summer (which is extremely cool by Indian standards). Then they got greedy, drained the lakes, built real estate and office properties on them and now Bangalore is an unbearable cesspit just like any other Indian city. Bad weather, bad traffic and a shit scenery. I still have some photos of my visits to Bangalore in my childhood a couple of decades back, and the visual contrast between past and present is so stark. Of course, locals love to resent the regression of the city, but they also love their coin.
- intended 2y ago
  Hey, Mumbai folks will fight you for supremacy on bad scenery. Course we concede the actual crown to our dearest friends in Delhi.
  - fakedang 2y ago
    I'll be honest, Mumbai is still very scenic, and I say that as someone from Kerala. Marine Drive and the Colaba area really have a very Bombay-days vibe even after all the changes in the area. While Sealink does ruin the sea views a bit, it's still not a grotesque mark on the scenery. To be honest, my only relatively poor experience in Bombay in terms of scenery was in the Four Seasons hotel in Worli, when I could get a nice view of couples going at it on the rooftops of the chawl nearby, somehow appropriately from my bathroom window. Delhi does have its own charms too. Assuming you're a strong enough male, it's worth exploring South Delhi on foot solo over autumns, winters and spring, just immersing in the city. Obviously face mask recommended and not recommended for ladies.
- Sammi 2y ago
  I'm not usually not the type to be preoccupied with green policy, but this was heart wrenching to hear.
- anon291 2y ago
  My family is part of the indigenous people of Mumbai, and my mom and dad's pictures of their childhood homes and stories are almost unbelievable if you visit now. My grandparents old bungalow is still on google maps, now surrounded by skyscrapers, but in the pictures, it's all fields and trees.
- hammock 2y ago
  I had no idea and thank you for sharing. Why did it fall apart?
  - momojo 2y ago
    Source: Grad student from Bengalaru I got lunch with. It became India's Silicon Valley. Acecnture. Infosys. Western IT money came pouring in and never stopped. https://www.businessinsider.com/india-silicon-valley-bengaluru-under-pressure-2024-12 https://www.businessinsider.com/india-silicon-valley-bengalu...

p3rls 2y ago

[flagged]

totalkikedeath 2y ago
[dead]

ignoramous 2y ago

Like many in the diaspora, you may have a romantic view of your roots. > much less pollution Comparatively? Perhaps. One look at the Vembanad Lake and you'll know what I'm talking about: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/high-levels-of-faecal-contamination-reported-in-vembanad-lake/article66707746.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/high-levels-of-fa... It stinks these days. > Kerala has a 96% literacy rate Lieracy surveys aren't as rigorous; likely 5% to 20% drop from reported numbers: https://www.dataforindia.com/measuring-literacy/ https://www.dataforindia.com/measuring-literacy/ > still holds much of the charm As someone who visited Kerala multiple times a year, things have gotten worse both climate wise & pollution wise. Though, the monsoon gods still bless Kerala, it isn't as green as it used to be. I've found (under similar climatic conditions) the Sri Lankan lowlands (West coast) to be more greener. Ditto for rainforests of NE India & SE Asia.

guerrilla 2y ago
> Lieracy surveys aren't as rigorous; likely 5% to 20% drop from reported numbers: https://www.dataforindia.com/measuring-literacy/ https://www.dataforindia.com/measuring-literacy/ This is very well studied in sociology and anthropology and has been for many decades. Kerala is a major case study in many fields because of this.
- 0xbadcafebee 2y ago
  To add to this: the most recent "96.2% literacy" estimate is based on a 2017 survey (not the 2011 census) where they interviewed a little over 2500 households in Kerala, though there are 7.7 million households there. I'm not a statistician, but this feels like too small of a sample size to make a definitive estimation. In addition, other states got very close to that literacy rate, but are probably managed quite differently to Kerala. Worth considering if people want to try to replicate Kerala's efforts without considering the wider context
  - kelipso 2y ago
    Most of the literacy education efforts started in the 1800s in Kerala. For example, > Education in Kerala has deep historical roots, dating back to the rule of local dynasties and the influence of colonial missionaries. The rulers of Travancore and Cochin played a crucial role in establishing schools and promoting learning, especially among marginalized communities. The British and Christian missionaries also made significant contributions by setting up institutions that emphasized modern education. > In 1817, the Travancore government issued a royal decree stating that education should be provided to all, including women and lower castes. By the early 20th century, Kerala had already built a strong foundation for literacy, ensuring that access to education was widespread. https://livekerala.com/blog/how-kerala-became-indias-most-literate-state/ https://livekerala.com/blog/how-kerala-became-indias-most-li...

not_kurt_godel 2y ago

The connection between education and wealth is very strong. Very sad that the US has decided to pursue a trajectory towards poverty in this area.

mc32 2y ago
In popular US culture the pursuit of wealth, is framed as crass. Movies that some see as promoting wealth accumulation are often actually critiques against wealth. Also, since the mid 60s pop culture has embraced the slacker as being hip and cool. They guy and gal trying to get ahead are portrayed as greedy or at best blindly joining a rat-race forgoing more noble pursuits. Not so for many other cultures.
- paulluuk 2y ago
  I think that in almost all western countries, a life spent entirely on hoarding wealth for the sake of wealth, is considered a sad life. Especially if you don't even have any loved ones to share your wealth with. I think the same it true for most of Latin america, where many of my friends and colleagues are from. And when I was in Nepal they thought that, if anything, western people are way too much focused on gathering wealth. Islam specifically rejects hoarding wealth, so I think that pretty much takes out most of the middle east and northern africa. So I'm curious which other cultures you are referring to. Perhaps specifically Indian and Chinese culture?
  - nick__m 2y ago
    Islam specifically rejects hoarding wealth, so I think that pretty much takes out most of the middle east I don't know much about religions but I don't believe it is that clearly delineated. How would you explain Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, from my limited vantage point they seem pretty much all in on their religion. Are they practicing a perverse form of Islam like the Christian who practice prosperity gospel?
    - blululu 2y ago

orochimaaru 2y ago

I think the focus on literacy is laudable. However, as the article points out the wealth isn’t locally generated, it is basically folks going out to gulf states sending back remittances. So while literacy has helped that there is not much to be said for local industry. I don’t see any startup tech or manufacturing in India falling over themselves to start in Kerala.