'കേരളചരിത്രം ബ്രാഹ്മണചരിത്രമല്ല' - Dr. T.S Shyam Kumar at Naithal Festival

In this deeply reflective and provocative address delivered at the third Naithal Festival, Dr. T.S. Shyam Kumar challenges the very idea of a unified Malayali identity. He argues that Kerala, often hailed as a progressive society, still harbors a deeply entrenched caste structure that fragments its people. Despite advancements in education and social awareness, caste-based discrimination continues to dictate social identity—even in surnames—and influences access to opportunity. Dr. Shyam Kumar highlights the glaring absence of lower caste representation in the leadership of major public limited companies and top-tier employment sectors. According to him, this systemic inequality hinders the dream of a truly inclusive and just Kerala. He calls for a collective awakening, urging all Malayalis to recognize casteism and Hindutva politics as twin forces that threaten social harmony and democracy. Only by dismantling these structures, he asserts, can we envision a new Kerala—a motherland that truly belongs to all Malayalis, not just the privileged few. Keywords: Dr. T.S. Shyam Kumar speech, Naithal Festival 2025, caste in Kerala, Malayali identity, Hindutva politics, Kerala social issues, caste discrimination, Kerala unity, Naithal Books, progressive Kerala, lower caste representation, Kerala future, caste and jobs in Kerala, Malayali social critique