The Kerala Model: Economic Prosperity Through Inclusivity

For over a decade, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has maintained a significant influence on India's politics. Crucially, the BJP hides behind hypernationalist rhetoric and Hindu exceptionalism, creating an inherently right-wing nation in the process. However, nestled along the southern tip of the country is the state of Kerala, a beautiful coastal area home to many diverse subcultures and religions. To Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala represents a threat. To leftists across the globe, Kerala represents hope. Simply put, Kerala, similar to its synthesis of various cultures, has adopted a mix of socialist and communist practices to ameliorate the conditions of its people. Although the state is not without its problems, it offers a clear model of what modern-day socialism can achieve.

Communism has always been rooted in the concept of class struggle. In Kerala, it's no different. Senior economist Aditya Balasubramanian at the Australian National University posits that the post-war famine in India directly led to the rise of socialist policies. In the colonial era, India was reliant on British exports for food. In the midst of World War II, due to various conflicts and battles, access became limited. Specifically, in the southern area of Travancore, rice became increasingly harder to come by. As a result, Travancore had to get out of a famine quickly before mass starvation occurred. However, leaders in Travancore, such as the autocratic C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyar, failed in delivering sustained action against the famine. Moreover, the ruling class in Travancore continually undermined the gravity of the situation. Overall, the mismanagement of food resources allowed the communist uprising to thrive and secure a legitimate place in politics. Ever since then, Travancore's ideological connection between India's resources and communist theory has spread like wildfire across all of Kerala. With this momentum, communists have won major general elections, secured influence amongst the people, and instituted beneficial policies surrounding a myriad of different sectors. Generally speaking, Kerala is unified as a single state with a strong emphasis on caring for its people. With public funding towards education, healthcare, and sustainability, Kerala has been able to yield great results. Indeed, Kerala heralds a 100 percent primary education enrollment rate, higher by significant margins over any other state in the country. Moreover, significant progress has been made towards universal healthcare in the past ten years. A study conducted by the International Journal for Equity in Health highlights, "overall increase in the share of public facilities for both outpatient care and hospitalization is indicative of the enhanced trust among the people at large of the public healthcare delivery system in Kerala." Moreover, infant mortality rates have gone down exponentially as "Kerala leads the country in the highest number of institutional births, and no child suffers from malnutrition."

The current party in power, the BJP, has dedicated considerable resources towards its goal of eliminating Kerala's communism. However, time and time again, they have failed. In 2014 and 2019, the BJP spent over 4.5 million dollars (Rs 40 crore) in Lok Sabha elections. They won zero seats. However, in the 2024 election, the BJP's pandering efforts to significant Christian populations in the state proved effective as the BJP picked up its first seat in Kerala's history. Now more than ever, is the time to support Kerala's valiant efforts in opposing BJP nationalism. The BJP's platforms and staunch resistance to Kerala's model are disturbing signs. Indeed, the socialist practices adopted by Kerala have proven effective, yet the BJP still aims to dismantle successful policies in favor of profit.

For leftists everywhere, Kerala is a prime example of modern-day socialism at its best. The region's unique history has lent itself well to classic leftist theory and the implementation of Marxist policies. Although the state is not perfect, it has made massive strides towards important sectors such as education and healthcare, and remains economically successful in comparison to other states across the sub-continent. However, Kerala's way of life is wholly at risk from the larger, nationalist BJP party. Yet, the people of Kerala are resilient, determined, and generous. Together, Kerala exemplifies a government that puts its people first.