Of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Kerala History

During my schooldays i never had an opportunity to learn about kerala, its society, its language although i was brought amidst all the above but was trained in a central School(kendriya vidyalaya). Although the school prepares you as an indian citizen.... it completely falls short of equiping students with regional heritage . The school equips the student with a better national identity (as an Indian) sans his regional roots. I never learnt malayalam in my school (although there was an unofficial attempt to teach it in the school it never took off). We learn more about indian history and none of history of kerala. Later in colleges when you meet friends from other schools then you know your handicap. In this global age it is not really necessary to know your heritage to make a living.

It is recently i completed the book "Ensuing of Venad" (വേണാടിന്റെ പരിണാമം) which was a very interesting historical document with timely references albiet few typo errors. The major eyopener for me was the evolution of societal setup in kerala. The influence of the namboodiris on the caste system (which was called as a "mental Asylum" By Swami Vivekananda) does not recieve much attention in the book. This caste system still controlls politics of the present kerala state.
The fact that region of kerala was never "rich" atleast economically can be made from the history. Kerala has always derived its riches from foriegn trade. Now it is by people working abroad that the economy is sustained. It never had a good agricultural setup or resources. The whole political history of kerala was governed either by internal squabbles for tutelary positions or over trade of Pepper. The book is also very candid about Shrewdness and superstisions Great king Anizham Thirunnal Marthanda Varma( who is infact called the restorer of the Kingdom of Travancore).

Well, i managed to find the link to the site which gives the genalogy and many other information about the dynasties of the world. Eventhough ilanded up at this site searching for information about princely state of erstwhile travancore. Here are two links...Royalark and the travancore site at princley states.

Importance of History

During schoolday, I used to think history was boring......rueing at the need to study history as it invloved remebering things/events old.....and you have to get by heart(which was tough for me..I was lazy to take that pain) a lot of dates and names.The Social studies( which includes History,Civics and Geography) in school was a very dull course but for the geography section....which I used to like. Looking at maps are still a passion for me.

But when you are grown and want to know the background of events that are happening around the world and reasons for it. This is when you rue that you did not learn (rather understand the importance of history and historical events) the subject...( for every other subject is is the same....just learned for exams....somethings remain and got engrained)....and feel the pinch now.

It all started by my interest in genealogy of my family( spent half an year or so collecting details...plan to put up in another blog). So then i started searching the net for softwares. And hence my family is connected to Royal family of Travancore..i stumbled on their genealogy website well documented by some foriegner( who for that matter has genealogies of many Dynasties of the world....will add in the link somewhere)...and then started the interest in History of kerala and then went on to Europe...which i am presently reading ("History of Europe" by J H Edwards) and a few books related history of Kerala ("Sancharikal kanda keralam(സഞ്ചാരികള്‍ കണ്ട കേരളം)" - by Velayudhan panickassery, "Venadinte parinamam(വെണാടിന്റെ പരിണാമം)", and "Jathi Vyavasthayum kerala charitravum(ജാതി വ്യവസ്ഥയും കേരള ചരിത്രവും)".

Interests

My interests and hobbies are seaosonal and I tend to get over them as soon as i have had my "stomachfull". And a few of them have been sustained and few come off and on.
I started with Stamp collection when i was akid as lot of people used to do theat. I think i never understood why you need a hooby...and i like to collect things.. i stared with Philately( a word i understood when i was grown up as i knew only stamp collection)...I donot have any of the stamps and some coins which i collected during my Schooldays(with my brothers).. i had lent it to one of my colleagues.. but was never returned...and was least bothered as i was never passionate about it and just did it for fun.
Sustain from Schooldays...."looking at maps", Collecting Cd's cassettes, reading is not a hobby( as I used to write in my Schooldays)

Used to dabble but not now....astrology, genealogy,Mythology and relegion

Passionate about Travelling, Driving

Current....Understading History...includes watching historical films......playing games with historical backgrounds like Zeus-poseidon, Age of empires, Tzar....