According to a legend, Kerala, which in Malayalam means the land of coconuts, rose from the ocean when Parshuram threw his axe in it. To inhabit this crescent shaped land, he introduced a new race of Brahmins- the Nambudris (According to a dictat of Adi Shankaracharya only a Nambudri Brahmin can qualify for the post of the ‘RAWAL’ at the Badrinath Temple) to whom he gave the ownership of land as well as a set of unique customs, which prevented them from settling elsewhere. To this day the Nambudri Brahmins have been able to maintain their purity of race and culture. He then introduced a race to serve them – the Nairs. To the Nairs he granted the matrilineal system of family. This system is unique to Kerala. Parshuram also prescribed that there would be no formal marriages amongst the Nairs.
Another explanation for this system is that the Cholas slaughtered the Nairs in large numbers and thus the number of women in comparison to men grew and as they stayed at home and controlled the family property the matrilineal system of family received impetus and came to be accepted. Gradually the system of slavery too faded, as the Nairs became economically sound and therefore practically more prominent. Education spread rapidly and the caste system weakened. Today Kerala is the first state of India to enjoy the status of 100% literacy in same districts. Overall the literacy rate is over 90%. Women enjoy a high status in Kerala society.

Politics
Another very distinctive aspect of Kerala is that politically they have always leaned towards Communism. Besides west Bengal, Kerala is the only state in India where communists have governed the state for several periods since independence.

Religion
Nearly 58% of the population of Kerala is adherents of Hinduism. Jainism and Buddhism were both significant until they were eclipsed by the revival of Hinduism. Besides Hinduism, the other major religions followed in Kerala are Christianity and Islam. St. Thomas, the Apostle, brought Christianity to Kerala in 52AD. When the Portuguese came they tried to convert the Syrian Christians to Roman Catholics but though they spread their gospel they were unable to undermine the influence of the former. Christians account for nearly 21% of the population of Kerala .The Muslims who constitute another 21% of the population trace their conversion to Islam to 7th century AD. A large number of Muslims have been attracted by the Economic and job opportunities in the Gulf states but although they go to work there they have maintained their links with the state.

Language 
The state language is Malayalam. This language is the most recent of Dravidian languages, developing from the 13th century onwards. It traces its origin to Sanskrit and the Prato Dravidian language. Besides Malayalam, majority of the population has a working fluency in English, Tamil and Hindi.

Cuisine
The Malayalees have managed to retain the authenticity of their cuisine despite a long history of influences from the West. Locally grown spices, fruits like the banana, pineapples, and custard apple, cereals like the plentiful coconut, rice and variety of seafood lend Malayalee cuisine a flavor, which is unique to Kerala.
Kerala grows a variety of cash crops like tea, rubber, cashews, teak and spices-especially the cardamom and black pepper. This wealth of Kerala has attracted traders to its shores for nearly 3,000 years but the prominence of commercial activity has not eroded the love of fine arts and crafts amongst Keralites. This is evident from the number of dance festival held every year. Even temples organize cultural festivals. Dances like the vibrant colorful and expressive Kathakkali and the graceful MOHINI-ATTAM are the gifts of Kerala to the world. Crafts like woodcarving, sculpture (stone), items fashioned from coir and the coconut shells and the delicate Tanjore paintings are practiced here with great skill.

To sum Kerala has a culture, which is vibrant and colorful yet, not rambunctious. There is sensitivity, a rhythm reflected in the actions of hundred men rowing in perfect unison quietly yet steadily. Kerala dances to the tune of a drum and a drummer who plays a unique beat.