By Sweat and Sword (Trade, Diplomacy and War in Kerala through the Ages)

This book takes one well beyond the usual narratives on Kerala history. The subject has been treated I a much wider context and very succinctly bears out the economic, diplomatic, military linkages critical to the survival, development and growth of a civilization for centuries together. It informs, provokes thought and forces a relook at the very core of most conventional held beliefs o n the subject.

Colonial documents record that war was the natural state of Kerala. They also record that its people were the happiest. Quite incredible, considering that ever since its discovery, Kerala’s political climate was characterized by a variety of Chinese, Arab, European, and local powers fighting each other for economic and military ascendancy. And yet, despite centuries of foreign contact and conflict, it continued to thrive and retain its independence. The frontiers of Kerala were never redrawn and neither did it suffer massive social or cultural dislocations (As in many cases in India and other p arts of the world), where in entire populations and cultures were scattered, subjugated or even wiped out. NO foreign orders or influences, especially those inimical to the populace could be imposed until the traditional order, was finally overturned by the end of the twentieth century. The influenced Kerala absorbed were of its own choosing.

This work humbly attempts to examine and unravel these aspects, draw reasonable inferences and understand their profound influence on society then and residual influences today.

It hypothesizes that this remarkable achievement was a direct consequence of Kerala’s unique military, diplomatic, social and economic culture. This cultural aspect, along with a deeply interdependent socio-political and economic matrix ensured the well-being of most of Kerala society. A society by no means perfect, but fairly close, causing British administrators, to record that society in Kerala and arrived close to fulfilling the utilitarian dictum of ‘the largest possible happiness of the largest numbers’.

Wing Commander K. K. Nair is a serving India Air Force Officer. He is presently the Joint Director, Operations (Space) at Air Headquarters, New Delhi. The views expressed herein are entirely in his personal capacity and do not in any way represent those of the IAF or the Govt. Of India.