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Kerala is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. It is one of four states that compose the linguistic-cultural region known as South India. First settled in the 10th century BCE by speakers of Proto-South Dravidian, Kerala was influenced by the Mauryan Empire. Later, the Cheran kingdom and feudal Namboothiri Brahminical city-states became major powers in the region. Finally, the States Reorganisation Act of November 1, 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood. Social reforms enacted in the late 19th century by Travancore and Cochin were expanded upon by post-Independence governments, making Kerala among the Third World's healthiest, longest-lived, most gender-equitable, and most literate regions. |
