Kerala, one of the smallest states in the Republic of India, was
formed in 1956. It has an area of 15,005 sq. miles. [38,863 sq.
km. ] about one percent of the total land area of India. The
state stretches for about 360 miles along the Malabar coast on
the western side of the Indian peninsula; its width varies from
20 to 75 miles. It is bordered by the states of karnataka on the
north, Tamil Nadu to the east and the arabian sea to the west
(map). The state has 14 districts and the capital is in
Trivandrum [now Thiruvananthapuram]. Isolated from the deccan
plateau by the mountanious belt of the Western Ghats, but with a
long coastline open to foreign influences, Kerala has evolved a
unique culture. It is a highly politicized region, but has a
long tradition of religious amity. It is an educationally
advanced state with its own language, Malayalam, and has the
highest rate of literacy (100%) among Indian states. Women in
Kerala enjoy a high social status, thanks perhaps to its
historic matrilineal system. Art f