The Malabar Mule

Have u heard the story of ‘Moscow Mule’? Legend records it as the first viral sensation in the drinking world (a la Dalgona coffee, for the uninitiated!)

Circa 1941, Smirnoff vodka was first introduced in United States and was a flop. No one would switch to vodka from their favourite whiskey or beer. An attempt to get rid of unsold ginger beer and a unique experiment to mix it with vodka, ice and lime in a copper mug (another poorly selling inventory) Voila! The viral sensation ‘Moscow Mule’ was born!

Fast forward to 2021, two days after the local elections, I walked into Taj Malabar, Kochi and the rustic bar ‘Mattancherry’ caught my attention. Dropped in at the bar in the evening to see if they had any unique offerings, else I could always have my signature ‘Monk Toddy’. After a cold Monk Toddy, at the bartender Sabu’s insistence, I tried the Malabar Mule. A hard cocktail of Old Monk, Beer (he used Kingfisher Ultra) and Ginger & Lime cordial with loads of ice. As I sipped on it, I thought it was ok. The bitter taste of beer and lime immediately hitting my palette, but half way through the drink, notes of caramel, chocolate and vanilla of old monk seeped in. In that moment, that drink to me felt a lot like Kerala itself!

I was born in Kerala and was a frequent vacationer there once I moved to Mumbai. For the first thirty years of my life, I thought of Kerala as just about ok with its systematic slow life much like the bitter beer and lime. It is only in the later years that I realised that Kerala is actually a beautiful co-existence. Just like the juxtaposition of beer, old monk and cordials in Malabar Mule, it’s a perfect cocktail.

Tourists and most Keralites themselves, see Kerala as ‘God's Own Country’ - a land of lush greenery (who doesn’t fall in love with that view from aircraft) and fresh air, coconuts palms, sparkling backwaters, rice boats, tea plantations, paddy fields, amazing beaches etc. A state-run fantastic marketing campaign only amplifies this scenic sell!

For me though, Kerala is a cocktail of diverse experiences (especially opposite ideologies) in harmony. A place where churches, temples and mosques co-exist and actually have each other’s back.

A state where every household has a staunch Mammootty or Mohanlal ( Lal ettan ) fan; but will always allow another star like Suresh Gopi or Dileep to seep in and create their own blended mega-stardom experience. New generation movies are free of clichés and stardoms with characters that each of us can relate to and the same time Mega stars belt out their brand of cinema. All of it co-exists.

Ask a Keralite about tradition and you might be taken aback by the fierceness with which they protect it. Irrespective of religion, folklore in the form of dances, martial arts or even Ayurveda is fiercely guarded. But turn around and you will find modern troupes practising blended dance forms, variations of Kalari (the martial art) and even one of the largest medical cities in the world!

Not only in movies, religion and lifestyle but in other areas like politics too; the co- existence continues!

A democratic socialist welfare state for more than 4 decades; Kerala have thrived in a two-party system (LDF and UDF) in which people by default vote each of them to power every alternate tenure. (Talk about keeping proportions right in a cocktail!) But in balancing the dance between these two megastars, Kerala has rarely allowed a third front to explore if it is capable of being a mega star. In the last few years though, a new front has emerged. The third front now is led by ruling party in the centre (coincidently one of their representatives Suresh Gopi is the third Mega star in movies).

For the Left, which is in power, this is the last state for them to retain their ideologies in this country, for the supposedly liberal UDF they need to win Kerala to halt their sudden slide in political spectrum across the country and for the ruling party in the centre, it is their first opportunity to seed their right ideologies into a state which have always allowed for the first time in politics the opportunity for a third Mega Star to compete.

I think this 2021 election in Kerala welcomes a new wave of politics and co-existence of various ideologies. For last 4 decades, the two parties with absolute diverse ideologies together or in turn helped develop Kerala as one of the leading states in India in all parameters, except job creation. While wearing the crown of the most literate state with rates of 96-97%, it is also burdened with highest educated unemployment at 26%. But in recent years we have seen a lot of our educated youth proudly return to farming & even urban farming! While the idea of growing one’s own food is by no means new to Kerala, I won’t be surprised if Kerala takes a lead in Urban farming mixed with conventional farming support from villages to create self-sustained cities like Kochi where jobs and food are in abundant supply.

I firmly believe that the policies practised in this beautiful state will be propagated across the country like developing robust education system and healthcare infrastructure. A system where all parties co- exist with a healthy opposition actively focused on common man’s real needs.

Election manifestos are no more about liberalisation, empowerment or secularism. People just want their everyday issues to be taken care of, i.e. more roads, more jobs, better capability by authorities to manage crisis like Covid.

On 2nd May 2021 when the election results are announced, there is a good likelihood that the existing ruling party will not be replaced for the first time in 40 years, a shift in alternating power system Kerala practised for years. I see that as welcoming of a new wave.

The changing narrative in Kerala is visible everywhere. The new wave in Kerala is free of clichés just like its new age movies or the beautiful modern IT parks and residential blocks built next to traditional houses and paddy fields.

That final sip of Malabar Mule, felt bitter, but mostly sweet , just like this enchantress, God’s own country, every flavour co-exists!