Sorry for the long post, but this is something I've been wanting to get off my chest for a while.

As a Keralite, I genuinely think we need to get humbled ASAP.

I've travelled to almost six states across India, and honestly, Kerala didn't feel like some extraordinary place that was completely different from the rest of the country. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Kerala is bad or that we have nothing to be proud of. We obviously have our strengths, achievements, and things that make our state special. But the way some Malayalees portray Kerala on social media, you'd think we're living in a completely different world, miles ahead of everyone else in literally every aspect of life.

Every time I open Instagram, I see people flexing about how we're different from other Indians, how we're more educated, how our food habits are superior, and how we're somehow more progressive than everyone else. At this point, it sometimes feels less like genuine pride in our state and more like an obsession with proving that we're superior to the rest of India.

What bothers me the most is how we react to criticism. I've seen posts by non-Malayalees pointing out certain problems in Kerala, and sometimes those posts aren't even ragebait. They're simply observations about things we could improve. But instead of considering whether there's any truth to the criticism, some of our people immediately get defensive. I've even seen people racially abuse someone simply because he was Tamil.

Think about the irony here. We constantly talk about how educated, progressive, and socially aware we are, yet some of us can't handle criticism from someone belonging to another state without attacking their identity. How is that supposed to reflect the progressiveness we're so proud of?

And before someone assumes I'm hating on Kerala, I'm a Keralite myself. That's exactly why I think we should be able to acknowledge our shortcomings without treating every criticism as an attack on our identity. Being proud of your state doesn't mean you have to defend everything about it. You can love Kerala and still admit that there are things we need to improve.

Another thing I've noticed is how desperately some people seek validation from foreigners, especially white people. The moment a foreigner praises Kerala, our culture, our food, or our lifestyle, some people act as if we've received international recognition for being the greatest people on Earth. Suddenly, the comment section is full of people explaining how Kerala is different from the rest of India, how our diet is superior, and how we're somehow better than everyone else.

There's nothing wrong with foreigners appreciating our state. That's great. But why does their approval sometimes seem to matter so much to us? Why do we need validation from someone outside India to feel good about ourselves? And why do we use that appreciation as an opportunity to put other Indians down?

I've reached a point where I sometimes don't even want to open the comments under certain Instagram posts because I can almost predict what's going to happen. If a post mentions Kerala or Malayalees, someone will take it personally, someone else will start comparing Kerala with another state, and before long, the entire discussion will become an argument about who's better.

Why does everything have to be a competition? Can't we discuss things objectively without making everything about our state and our pride?

The irony is that we pride ourselves on being educated and progressive, but education and progressiveness aren't just about literacy rates or academic achievements. They also involve critical thinking, accepting different perspectives, and being mature enough to acknowledge our own shortcomings. If we can't do that, then perhaps we need to rethink what we mean when we call ourselves progressive.

I'm not saying every criticism of Kerala is valid. Obviously, some people deliberately spread misinformation or post ragebait, and those things deserve to be challenged. But there's a difference between correcting misinformation and blindly attacking anyone who says something negative about our state. Not everyone who criticises Kerala is jealous of us.

Having travelled outside Kerala, I've realised that every state has its own strengths, culture, and achievements. There are things we can learn from other states, just as there are things they can learn from us. No state has everything figured out, and Kerala is no exception. Even if we perform well in certain areas, that doesn't automatically make us superior as people.

I think we sometimes confuse having certain advantages as a state with being inherently better than others. We can appreciate Kerala's achievements without looking down on people who come from different backgrounds. A person's worth isn't determined by which Indian state they were born in.

Instead of spending so much time arguing online about which state is better, we could use that energy to discuss our own problems and figure out how to improve. We can defend Kerala when it's unfairly criticised while still being honest about its flaws. Those two things aren't mutually exclusive.

I'm not asking Malayalees to stop being proud of Kerala. I'm simply saying that we need to stop letting that pride turn into a superiority complex. We need to stop treating every comparison as a competition and every criticism as an insult.

Being proud of Kerala is one thing. Constantly needing to prove that Kerala is superior to everyone else is another.

Honestly, I think we need a reality check. We need to be less obsessed with external validation, more open to constructive criticism, and more willing to acknowledge that we have flaws just like every other state.

If we're as educated, progressive, and open-minded as we keep claiming to be, accepting that shouldn't be so difficult.

What do you guys think? Have you noticed this attitude among Malayalees on social media, or am I exaggerating?

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https://www.instagram.com/p/DehLoYqigI5/?rpxt=MWdiamxqbGE0ajg4Ng==

https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/congress-zero-seats-win-mlc-polls-bjp-jds-karnataka-dk-shivakumar-bihar-maharashtra-uttar-pradesh-itspc-3026696-2026-10-28

I agree with him, and not that to make it hindu rashtra or anything but just to remind and acknowledge the people who comment’s “Is India Your Father’s Property”

Sangi bhudhi aanu

Pinne paranchittum valliya karyam illa

Where is Pappu?? Where is CM?? Where are the whole left lobby???

They suspended SHO and other juniors but protected the IPS guy with just a transfer. India should scrap civil service most of the people are corrupt and don't deserves to be there. And Indians should stop worshipping them.

Currently happy with how the case is progressing. Hopefully he gets atleast lifetime imprisonment.

As a Malayali, I genuinely think pork is one of those foods everyone should try at least once in their life. Kerala-style pork dishes with that perfect combination of spices, pepper, and crispy fat is on another level. 🤌

Pork is missing from the menus of many hotels and restaurants in Kerala, even though Kerala has a long tradition of pork dishes.

Is it because restaurant owners worry about losing customers, religious and cultural preferences, or simply because the demand isn't high enough to make it commercially viable?

Once you taste pork, you’ll never forget it!Pork lovers know the feeling.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfAYRsAx511/

Nammude keralatil entha nadakunna? Why are people not giving outrage by keeping themselves busy with CJP protest and instead discussing troubles suffered by our own people?? Why is No outrage on this anywhere??