Neil Armstrong took that giant leap of mankind and looked around. An ideal spot for the American flag, that was what he searched for. As he looked around, to his amazement, he heard someone asking him from the corner, ‘hello there, care for a cup of tea?’ He turned round to look into a pair of black eyes and a black mustache in the brown face of a Keralite.
This is a popular story that needs reading between the lines: Go to any little corner of the planet, you will find at least one man from this smallest but most literate state of South India. Keralites have been able to spread roots and branch themselves in the various parts of the world by dint of their industrious attitude to work and the flexibility in accepting different cultures.
The other day, I met this graduate engineer, Osman Siddique from north Kerala. He said he had come here as engineer, but for the first six months he had to work as a laborer excavating earth, for laying cables. I do not honestly think any other educated young man except a Keralite would be ready to do this kind of a job. It is this readiness to undertake any job with equanimity that takes a Keralite to his/her heights.
Believe, me, I have rarely seen other nationals work so well under pressure. A Keralite brain can easily display multiple skills. As an educationist, I have seen many nationalities among my student community, and I haven’t seen many like Keralite students whose multiple intelligences work in unison to achieve the best possible results. This ability, coupled with hard work takes them to heights.
Talking about flexibility, Keralites possess that special knack of easily merging with all kinds of crowds. We hear about Iftar parties under the leadership of a priest, inside a church in Kerala, after which the Muslims prayed inside the church. This is a unique occurrence, probably unheard of, hitherto in the world. Keralites have always been popular for their broad outlook on cultural distinctions. We see all festive occasions shared by all Keralites irrespective of their castes, creeds and faiths.
Since it’s birth in 1956, Kerala has made a significant mark in almost all fields including literacy and women empowerment. Almost every other person you meet here is a graduate or a postgraduate. Literacy rate of Keralites has always been the highest not only in Kerala but internationally too, said, Koya Anachirayil, former chairman of the Indian school Managing Committee.
Keralites are loyal too. On my arrival to the Kingdom, I had heard about this loyal Keralite in Khafji, who during the 1991 Iraq war, refused to leave his sponsor and his company behind. The sponsor had given him permission to go back to his country, but the loyal employee had said: “It’s my fate if something happens to me, I have come here for a job and I will stick to it.”
Later when the sponsor came back after the war, this devoted employee gave back to the employer his property in a much more profitable condition. Says, Abdul Razzack Ali-Al-Turki, the managing director of Namma Cargo Services and the past division governor of Toastmaster clubs of Division F in the Eastern Province, “I have known many Keralites, and in the light of my experience, I must say that they are hardworking, honest and sincere. They are indeed a friendly lot.”
Majeed Chathenvelil, a senior Keralite citizen and a renowned social worker in the Eastern Province says, “The Kingdom has seen the job-oriented emigration of Keralites to this land since 1940s; this influx of Keralites gained density in the 60s and this has been on an increase after 80s. The Saudi employers have always been pleased about the forbearance of the Keralites in their work places.”
The past Division Governor of Toastmasters, Division F, Saif Ali Sheikh, said, “I have not known many as devoted and committed to whatever they do, as the Keralites. Another notable feature about them is their unity, Despite personal differences, in times of need they help one another.”
Linda Parker Shamsudeen, from South Africa shares this fact enthusiastically: “You know, Kerala people are goal-oriented; in whatever they do, they have this insistence that they give their best. I have hardly seen any other community having such strong ties that bind them together. They stand by for each other.” Linda works as a schoolteacher for the Saad International Schools.
Dr. Anna Mary Amudi, English cluster supervisor of Dhahran Ahliyya Schools, beams as she speaks about her Keralite colleagues. “Oh, they are wonderful people with a unique work culture; hardworking, is one word that describes them.”
Anil Madan, vice president, education and training of Toastmasters Division F, says, “The one word that describes Keralites is that they are ambitious, in a positive way. I was close to Keralites who have made their mark here, and I have noticed that they are enterprising, outgoing, sociable and very adjustable.”
The only astonishing contradiction I have never come to understand is that even after 50 years of this reputation, Keralites seem to be a different breed altogether when they go back to Kerala. Whither flees this enterprising, hardworking amicable and pleasant Keralite when he lands in his native place? The work culture becomes different and the attitude changes. If we have made excellence a habit, shouldn’t it be constant?
(Shaila Koya is president of CIGI Toastmasters Club in Alkhobar)
