Research Paper on:
Challenges and Successes of the Indian State of Kerala

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Located in the southwest corner of India, the state of Kerala was formed in 1956 from portions of the states of Cochin, Travancore, and Madras. Keralas  relatively brief history as a state, however, is formed on a framework of a complexity of factors which have influenced the region even before her statehood. These factors have  resulted in a social maturity and relative prosperity which have allowed Kerala success in many arenas, both historic and contemporary arenas. Much of this success can be attributed to  the lower caste members of Keralan society (Ramachandran, 1995). Their tenacity as a people has inspired social and political movements which have allowed them success in everything from maintaining  a strong hold on their cultural traditions to insuring a better standard of living in terms of their traditional culture, their health, and their economic prosperity (Ramachandran, 1995). These  successes, however, can only be understood through a thorough consideration of the history of the region which is now known as Kerala as it stand in context to India, and  indeed the world, as a whole. In 1957 Kerala would make world history by installing the first democratically elected Marxist government (Wilson Quarterly,  1999; (Ramachandran, 1995). While Kerala has suffered from a number of social concerns throughout its history, it has enjoyed tremendous success in regard to the education arena and a variety  of other social and situational arenas (Wilson Quarterly, 1999). Indeed, the state boasts of the highest literacy rate in India (Wilson Quarterly, 1999). Kerala has been fortunate from  a natural resources standpoint as well. The state depends heavily on its fertile lands to raise agricultural goods ranging from cardamom to pepper to rubber to tea (Wilson Quarterly,