“Guro,” called out Maveli. Maveli is the asura hypocorism for the deva name Mahabali. Kerala is advertised by the Tourism Department as “God’s Own Country.” But the people of Kerala love asura hypocorisms. You can’t blame the people, really. Like their favourite King, Maveli, quite many of them have been expatriated. Those who are not expatriated geographically (or literally, if you wish) adopt expatriation by intoxication. And expatriates love nostalgic hypocorisms. Kerala is the land of expatriates. Pravasi is the most favourite word in the state. Every pravasi is supposed to be living in bliss. If there is any Malayali pravasi who is not living in such blissful condition, Benyamin or Mukundan will write Aadujeevitham or Pravasam in honour of the hapless pravasi’s nostalgia for God’s Own Country which is actually Maveli’s Own Country. And Maveli was an asura, a demon. “ Prabho , My Lord,” came Maveli’s Guru, Sukracharya hearing Maveli’s call.
Cerebrate and Celebrate