‘Keralam alag hai’! CM lauds North Indian journalist’s article on State’s harmony

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan shared a message of communal harmony and pluralism, quoting a column written by ‘The Indian Express’ Assistant Editor Deepika Singh, who recounted her experiences of visiting the state.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister highlighted Kerala's secular ethos and social harmony.

Satheesan stated, “Keralam alag hai! Different faiths, diverse languages, yet one shared humanity. When Deepika Singh, a journalist from Uttar Pradesh at The Indian Express, writes about finding a sense of belonging in Keralam, she captures what generations have lived by: Here, diversity is not merely tolerated; it is celebrated.

“Thank you, @DeepikaLeo, for capturing the soul of a land where humanity is our faith and harmony is our strength.

“That is Keralam. Welcome to the New Era of God's Own Country.”

The story behind it

The Chief Minister’s post was prompted by an opinion column authored by Deepika Singh for ‘The Indian Express’, titled “I am from UP. In Kerala, I felt like I belonged.”

In the article, Singh recounted her travels across Kerala and her impressions of its social atmosphere, pointing to the seamless coexistence of different cultures and religious places, language inclusivity and safety for women. Referring to a video of a Muslim resident participating in local Dussehra festivities in the state, she noted a shopkeeper's casual summary of the ethos, “Kerala alag hai” (Kerala is different).

The Kerala government and leadership have frequently emphasised the state's secular credentials and pluralistic culture as core features of its social model, contrasting it with divisive socio-political narratives seen elsewhere.