Keralam at 70: holding a mirror to India
At a time when majoritarian nationalism encompasses large parts of India, Keralam at 70 is still offering a vision of secularism and pluralism
In 1956, Kerala was one of India's poorest states, comparable to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Today, it stands among the richest states in the country, but more importantly, it boasts a lower infant mortality rate than the United States. Were Kerala to be considered a nation, it would hold the 75th position on the Human Development Index, surpassing China's ranking.
Additionally, Kerala would be 55 places ahead of India, currently at 130. This remarkable transformation and divergence from the national trajectory is globally recognized as the "Kerala story." While it is not without flaws, this narrative is anchored by a strong democracy, a rarity in the Global South. Its significance is further amplified by Kerala's status as one of the most religiously diverse regions in the country.
Kerala exemplifies Amartya Sen's original thesis that development is about expanding human freedoms rather than mere economic growth; human development does not necessitate high incomes. However, even today, the central focus of the national development agenda is the "Viksit Bharat 2047" initiative, an income-based development metric.
If India matched Kerala's infant mortality rates, it could potentially save over 500,000 infant lives annually.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
