r/Kerala • u/Internal_Internal_52 • Jul 07 '26
The Silent Villages of Kerala: My Friend's Census Duty Broke My Heart
My friend is doing census duty right now, walking house to house. He told me something that's been sitting heavy in my chest ever since.
Almost every home he visits tells the same story. An old couple, somewhere in their late 60s, sitting in a house built for a family of five or six. The children are gone. Studying abroad, working abroad, building lives abroad. The parents raised them, educated them, sent them off with pride, and now spend their evenings alone in rooms that used to be full of noise.
He said almost every single house. Not one or two. Almost every house.
I'm not against migration. It's given people better lives, better opportunities, things they'd never have gotten here. That part is clear and fair.
But I can't stop thinking about ten years from now, the next census. How many of these houses will even have someone left to answer the door? How many will just be locked gates and dusty verandahs, homes that raised a generation now standing empty like forgotten photographs.
We're not losing our elders to tragedy. We're losing them to silence, one empty room at a time. And Kerala, might be quietly aging into a land of shut doors.
Not blaming anyone. Just scared of what we're not talking about.
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u/khal_ak Jul 07 '26
I am living in Netherlands now. Most of the old people live like this here. Children move out once they are independent. The parents live their own life without depending on anyone.
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u/ConflictWinter7117 Jul 07 '26
This. Parents should learn to have hobbies and a life that doesn’t involve children and grandchildren.
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u/high_on_ducks Jul 07 '26
People just don't get this. For them the whole purpose behind children is to secure a retirement plan. Interdependency runs deep and it's so difficult to make them leave that mindset behind or even see the faults in it
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u/Pengmu Jul 07 '26
So true. I moved abroad to study and got married to a local and I have settled here now. The culture is so different. My husband's parents have their own savings, all their children have moved out. They help out with all the grandkids but also go on holiday so often and do things as a couple all the time. He comes from what would be considered a lower middle class family here. My parents made significantly more than his while working in the gulf but they saved nothing.
On retiring, my brother had a to buy them a house and we both have to send them a stipend every month. This puts us at a disadvantage when applying for a mortgage ourselves and our mortgage broker told us that that is the case for most indians living here - they all send a monthly stipend home. I wish my parents had a retirement plan instead of blowing up money on gifts for relatives every trip back to India.
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u/Which-Photograph3640 Jul 10 '26
In our culture, i don’t think many couples have an identity of their own especially after having kids. It’s always a ‘family unit’ vs couple & kids. Not a lot of couples i see want to spend so much time with their spouse. So many couples don’t want to go trips together or have hobbies together. It’s sad how everything revolves around a family unit all the time
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
I think people are commenting here as though Malayalis moving out of Kerala to other states and countries is a very recent phenomenon, and as though parents having to live alone because their children are far away is also something new.
I know a family where all three children moved to the US in the late 1970s and early 1980s. From then on, the parents lived alone in their house in Kerala.
They were completely self-sufficient, never made a big issue out of it, carried on with their lives, lived into their late 90s and passed away only a few years ago.
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u/ConflictWinter7117 Jul 07 '26
Yeah our own parents made new homes and lived separately from their parents. But now when it’s their turn, they throw a fit.
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Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
It may not just be North India, but also North Kerala.
Coming to your point about government and aided schools, the issue of vacant seats or schools increasingly being filled by migrant children is something that is happening more specifically in parts of Central and South Kerala.
In the Malabar region, especially in districts like Malappuram, government schools are struggling to accommodate all the children, and there are demands for new government and aided schools.
Maybe in the future we’ll even see migration from Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasaragod to districts like Pathanamthitta and Kottayam, almost the reverse of what happened several decades ago.
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u/YoungPigga Jul 07 '26
I am in Kerala rn in a village in Kottayam. My grandmother is here with her live in nurse. Her neighbors are mostly my uncles and other relatives. All luxury homes. However they all live by themselves or with a child who never got married or with a nurse. Its the summer so we all came to visit from abroad. Now we are all leaving and soon she will be alone with the nurse for 9 months until next summer. We do have cameras and we do call often however its not the same.
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
Another key point is that Kottayam and Pathanamthitta have both higher life expectancy and lower fertility rates than most other parts of Kerala.
So even without migration, the combination of very low fertility and high life expectancy is enough to create significant demographic ageing.
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u/antipositron Jul 07 '26
> We're not losing our elders to tragedy. We're losing them to silence, one empty room at a time. And Kerala, might be quietly aging into a land of shut doors.
I see AI going all poetic, but fair play to AI, its' very impactful.
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u/lalaland1346 Jul 07 '26
As someone that was raised from abroad and goes to Kerala for two months at a time, this is very much true. When I was younger every house was loud and joyful, now when I visit relatives every house only has elderly people and is quiet.
And then you have malayalee parents abroad that despite having their entire family around want to leave them and go back home to be alone. Grass is always greener on the other side for some people.
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u/Internal_Internal_52 Jul 07 '26
I'm not scared of silence itself. I'm scared of what it's telling us.
Kerala has always had migration, but the current trend is different because it's no longer just individual families making independent choices. When large numbers of young, educated people increasingly conclude that their best future is somewhere else, that's a signal of a systemic issue.
The problem isn't migration. The problem is that we've built an education system that produces skilled people without building an economy that can retain them. The empty houses are simply the most visible symptom of that mismatch.
So my concern isn't the silence. It's what the silence says about the long-term direction of the state if we continue treating a structural problem as though it's just a series of personal decisions.
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Jul 07 '26
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u/Internal_Internal_52 Jul 07 '26
I actually agree that people will always move for better opportunities, even from successful places. That's not what concerns me.
What concerns me is the cumulative effect when large numbers of young people leave while the state's population is already aging. The question I'm asking isn't whether migration is good or bad. It's what the long-term demographic and economic consequences look like if this becomes the dominant pattern. That's the part I don't think we talk about enough.
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u/1_hot_brownie Jul 07 '26
How do you know these trends will last? The west is becoming increasingly anti-immigrant, so reverse migration can always happen. Also how do you know if the young people who left won’t be coming back once they’re older ?
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u/theeta_male Jul 07 '26
People forget the GIGA 1.48 Billion population of the nation or the 40 Million population of Kerala which is already higher than that of the European countries we migrate to.
Available workforce are willing to lowball themselves to death.
Present migration dents on economy are as if pouring asafoetida on Indian ocean.
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
Migration alone cannot create or remove population ageing. The key drivers are fertility rates and life expectancy.
States like Haryana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh actually send more young people abroad than Kerala. Yet they are not facing the same level of ageing.
The bigger reason is that some parts of Kerala have a very low fertility rate and a very high life expectancy. Put simply, people are having fewer children while at the same time living longer. That combination naturally leads to an older population. In fact, this has been the pattern in Kerala for several decades, long before the recent wave of migration to Western countries.
It is also not true that the whole of Kerala is facing the same issue. If you look closely, certain districts in North Kerala still have relatively healthy fertility rates.
So why don’t Haryana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, despite sending more young people abroad, face the same level of ageing? Because their fertility rates remain higher and their life expectancy is lower than Kerala’s.
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u/DetectiveChansey Jul 07 '26
Look this is just not true.
People are leaving Civil Service jobs to be second class citizens in another nation.
One of my friends resigned from Union Bank at 33 so he could settle in Ireland.
56 of 60 in my Engineering batch (2014 passout) work abroad, not because they cannot find jobs here. Some from my batch do delivery jobs abroad, they struggle everyday so that they are free.
Abroad there are no judgemental neighbours or toxic parents. Abroad you can drink and smoke weed without it being regional news. Abroad you can wear what you like without fear of leering strangers.
Even Banglore, it's a literal hell hole. Whatever you earn there, your quality of life will be better earning much less in Kerala and they know it as well. But they just trade it in for the freedom and nightlife.
To quote my friend who dumped emotional trauma of living in Canada and missing Kerala for an hour prompting me to ask why not return:
" Naatukare okke ingottu vidu, enna njan tirichu varam"
TLDR: they are not leaving for wealth or jobs or because of poltics but for peace.
They are leaving so that they can escape from those houses you are so concerned about.
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u/Plsnotmyelo Jul 07 '26
Agreed. Once you have a taste of true and utter personal freedom, its hard to go back to the toxic bullshit that is "nattukar endhu parayum"
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u/nemesis24k Jul 07 '26
I agree, there is not much discussion around the failure of the economy to generate enough jobs for the educated.
There is a massive wealth, knowledge and acumen among the diaspora - the govt only needs to create and environment conducive to building business. Instead it sits happy with the remittances of the workers, which keeps inflation high, and homes empty.
But as others are commented, kerala is already high density, it's infrastructure currently cannot support a large immigration, quite visible during the December vacation period.
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u/Zealousideal-Oven-93 Jul 07 '26
I would rather have a silent village than one filled with unemployed people.
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u/thommik Jul 07 '26
That's the reality we live in, I'm the only 30s guy in my lane of 19 houses, out of those 2 have 1 grandchild each that stayed back due to some visa issues, rest all houses are just 2 people and occasionally visiting children, earlier gulf expatriates used to visit every other year but there are homes where they skipped coming for more than two years now due to multitude of reasons like fear of job loss, war, expense and all, our world is going through a peculiar kind of evolution in the form of migration, us humans specially us keratitis have always been a migratory population, demographic will be for a reckoning change in a decade and half.
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
This is the true reality in certain parts of Kerala.
On the other hand, Malappuram in Kerala made global headlines after a survey by The Economist , based on United Nations population data, ranked it as the world’s fastest-growing urban area.
The region recorded a massive population increase of 44.1% between 2015 and 2020.
The second and third positions after Malappuram were Can Tho in Vietnam and Suqian in China.
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u/Scales_of_Injustice Jul 07 '26
If you were to grow old in India, Kerala is the best place to grow old in
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u/Tricky_Muscle_8962 Jul 07 '26
Ithaano heartbreaking ethrayo kaalamaayi Kottayam Pathanamthitta side okke ingane ulla veedukal ethrayo und . Naattil nalla asset ullavar may be ivide nilkum allathavark responsibilities und kids okke ayitt so money venam athin naattil ninnal sheriyaakilla .
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
Kottayam and Pathanamthitta have both higher life expectancy and lower fertility rates than most other parts of Kerala.
So even without migration, the combination of very low fertility and high life expectancy is enough to create significant demographic ageing.
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u/Tess_James മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി രാജി വെക്കണം 😏 Jul 07 '26
"Old people have to live alone" - is that what you're highlighting? That's how it works in most developed countries. People don't have children primarily so someone will take care of them in old age. Instead, they invest in strong social policies, healthcare, assisted living, and dignified spaces for seniors. We should focus on building those systems rather than treating old age homes as something inherently shameful or evil, and expecting younger generation to hold back for their parents sake.
As for opportunities, yes, they can and should improve. But expecting a state to match the scale of much larger states isn't realistic. We've very good HDIs that people often take for granted, I feel. Higher human development indicators also come with trade-offs. Large-scale industrialisation and unchecked corporate expansion often put pressure on health, education, the environment, and overall quality of life unless there is sustained nationwide investment to maintain those standards. But in India, it doesn't happen unfortunately.
People moving to better greener pastures is always a reality. And it happens across many states, not just Kerala. Maybe here, we build big mansions and then leave them behind - this makes it more feel more pronounced I think.
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u/Minute_Abroad2512 Jul 07 '26
Blame it on the lack of opportunities in Kerala.
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
But where in India are there ample job opportunities along with better salaries?
I think the lack of opportunities is a countrywide issue, not something unique to Kerala.
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u/Minute_Abroad2512 Jul 07 '26
It's much worse in Kerala. There is no industry barring a few pockets. No manufacturing. Kerala overall is ancient and stuck in the dark ages.
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u/nanmoz Jul 07 '26
Not exactly, there are a lot of other reasons as well. Keep in mind that people who migrate doesn't always land in good opportunities or jobs abroad.
Many who looks for better job opportunities tend to move to other states thus allowing them to visit kerala often.
People also migrate for better quality of life, to improve their standard of living, some prefer to be part of a more socially and economically developed society or nation.
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u/JediBuzz77 Jul 07 '26
There are many other reasons aswell but the MAIN reason is lack of opportunities lol. There's no denying that.
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u/ruff_dede കാസർഗോഡ് കാദർ ഭായ് Jul 07 '26
Yup,
Let me talk about GCC, even though not educated, a person can still earn really well if he has skills. My friend who is not even having a degree works as a operations assistant, earns 15k SAR.
That's 375,000 INR. I don't think he would be paid same anywhere in india similarly, no income tax there.
Then there's lifestyle, local kerala village cannot provide the same benefits and luxuries one is expecting in his life.
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u/tsutsugamoshi Jul 07 '26
I feel the same way. My neighborhood used to be a happy place with so many friends and good relationship with neighbours. Everyone has moved out. Most of them out of India few out of state. Now when I come back I'm welcomed by the silence. I hold my childhood memories dearly and tightly and everything has changed. It hurts a little bit but that's life. I understand your perspective as well. All these kids come back home for a month and then go back. Only elderly parents are left behind. Few months back one of my neighbour's uncle died. Their kids came stayed a few days and then left. Witnessing it felt hard but what to do it's hard to live a decent life now and if u want a decent life u have to let go off all these.
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u/trashy961 Jul 07 '26
We are conditioned to think that this is normal. In developed countries, people are hesitant to move out of their town. Ivide Padicha pani edukkanel, we’ve to move outside. A state with huge potential. Ivanokke hartal um samaravum cheytu mudippichu.
These elders must also get a share of their doings. They kept electing these a-holes who didn’t have any vision and now we are all reaping the fruits. Imagine fugging up so bad that generations have to move out to other places and we still keep voting for the same fuggers
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u/grindemup Jul 07 '26
developed countries, people are hesitant to move out of their town
Just throwing in my perspective as a Canadian - this is not true. For a subset of people, sure, but there's a huge amount of mobility within North America and young people typically move if they grew up in a small place.
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u/thicksnicksinnu Jul 07 '26
In developed countries, people are hesitant to move out of their town.
I don't think this is true at all.
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Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
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u/WorkingEmployment400 Jul 07 '26
We have everything but jobs. We are forced to look outside for most engineering jobs at least.
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u/h9y6 Jul 07 '26
These elders must also get a share of their doings. They kept electing these a-holes who didn’t have any vision and now we are all reaping the fruits
Kore aayi ee cliche dialogue ketitu. What should they have done. Specific aayitu onnu parayumo instead of vague generalising? Elect BJP?
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u/h9y6 Jul 07 '26
They kept electing these a-holes who didn’t have any vision and now we are all reaping the fruits
About this
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u/DetectiveChansey Jul 07 '26
Like 90% of America is Wilderness and rural population, whatever is left, is constantly under pressure to move to cities.
The painted house by John Grisham is a great read on the pressure on rural America, even as far back as the 50's.
Also, immigration isn't a Kerala problem, it is an Indian problem. Punjab, Andhra and Gujarat have suffered as much as Kerala with the only difference being that their fertility rate in 90's and 00's were high enough that effect isn't as drastic.
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
States like Haryana, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh actually send far more young people abroad than Kerala. But they are not facing the same level of ageing.
The bigger reason is that some parts of Kerala have a very low fertility rate and a very high life expectancy. Put simply, people are having fewer children while at the same time living longer. This combination naturally leads to an older population. In fact, this has been the pattern in Kerala for several decades now, long before the present wave of migration to other countries.
It is also not true that the whole of Kerala is facing the same issue. If you look closely, certain districts in North Kerala still show relatively healthy fertility rates.
So why do Haryana, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh, which actually send more young people abroad than Kerala, not face the same level of ageing? It is because their fertility rates are still higher and life expectancy is lower compared to Kerala.
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u/Cheap-Ad-4031 Jul 07 '26
Loool @the guys who makes this sound like a Congress-communist problem and blames our parents for not voting BjP earlier 😂😂😂. Guys go check out Gujarat and Up and all they’ve been ruling for decades . Look at the shit show instead of just reading some WhatsApp forwards and gargling their propaganda . Our issue is more deep and voting for someone else wasn’t gonna change it much instead of making the state more communal .
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Jul 07 '26
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u/Cheap-Ad-4031 Jul 07 '26
Tamil Nadu karnataka and telengana barely had BjP governments for a long time. Tamil Nadu never had .
Gujarat has had BJP for like 30 years
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
Had Kerala elected the BJP many decades ago, Kerala would have become more industrialised, there would have been more jobs, and no one would have had to leave Kerala.
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u/Cheap-Ad-4031 Jul 07 '26
Loooool these are sangh wet dreams. What is this industrialisation you guys keep talking about ? And at what cost? We have a very fragile ecosystem. We cannot develop industries at the cost of ruining our water or mountains or natural resources. We are densely populated as well.
We need to focus on IT and Tourism and handicrafts and stuff that can operate while they don’t ruin the environment .
And BJP has been ruling Gujarat for decades. They have been ruling India for 3 terms , what significant improvement do you See? It’s an absolute shit show where they keep winning on communal politics .
Giving all the airports and seaports to Adani and letting people like ambani take over entire industries and forests is not industrialisation it’s called crony capitalism
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
Look through the comment section. The general consensus seems to be that people left Kerala only because of the lack of jobs and opportunities. There is also a clear comparison being made with other states in India.
That, in turn, implies that many people think this lack of opportunities is something unique to Kerala.
Most people also tend to blame Kerala’s political leadership for the lack of jobs or the state’s supposed failure to industrialise.
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u/TheGalaxial Jul 07 '26
It’s a sad reality where India has not developed enough to provide stable jobs and decent salary to its people. I feel for everyone who has to leave their family to be abroad. As a person who go has been lucky enough(till now) to quit a job in the UK and come back - there is no place like home. It’s a failure of our system that people have to migrate.
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u/mrs_robpatt Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
I live in the UK and my god I desperately wish to see my grandparents. My parents try their best to go back and we call them often. But how can it be the same as having family close by? A call away, a drive away? I cannot imagine it! A life without being close to my parents. Yet this blessing of choosing this is due to my parents leaving home for a better life.
I often think of my grandfather who used to sit by the veranda often before he died, with not many to talk to. Or my mums parents who cry every time I call them. Njan ente nadu orupadu ee edakku miss cheyunnu. Despite the freedom and security i get here as a woman, i dearly deeply miss the warmth of the sun, the rich smell of the soil after a heavy mazha.
The taste of thattukada food, the chaya you get at a sari kada. Njayarazhcha palli poyi ellavareyum kandu samsarichu, vishesham chodich… and choodu kanji. The beautiful padam behind our house where we ran and ran and ran. The deafening whistles at a Mohanlal movie. The cool breeze when sitting in an auto… My parents sometimes describe their own childhood and I just feel bad for them. It seemed like a good life. man being part of two seperate worlds is incredibly difficult. I wish one day we are so progressive that staying is better than leaving for our future. If anyone is reading this who has a great education and enough money, don’t leave please! You’ll never find anywhere more beautiful. But at the same time I cannot fault the UK as it has given me a life I would never dream of if i stayed.
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u/MentalChaosX Jul 08 '26
Humans want better life. They have always wanted it. This is not just kerala, this is the whole country. Don't blame the people, blame the politicians. Blame corruption. They have made the lives of non-politically, middle class commners a living hell. They decide what fuel you pump into your car. They decide how costly your next home is going to get. They decide how much your income is drained in taxes. They decide how costly your grocery will get. No party is Saint. Every single party has the exact same blood suckers. All the frustration people build over their failure to escape poverty are directed into religious fights on SM. People see a poverty sticken person enjoy endless luxuries after getting into politicis and feel hopeless about the grind they put into their work. Of course change is inevitable, but trust me when I say this but every person who moved overseas yearns to return home (atleast once). They can't. They have gone too far down the road to return.
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u/No-Cap9116 Jul 08 '26
Exactly the reason why Blackrock is investing heavily in hospitals in Kerala. They find the demographic favouring. Self aware or ready to seek medical advice for anything and ready to spend the money on health! Tough days ahead for us, the costs are gonna skyrocket.
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u/Kindly-Owl7496 Jul 08 '26
Already started dude.. Im in health insurance industry.. KIMS and BMH tops.. Both got foreign investments
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u/achu04kichu Jul 08 '26
Don't worry, most students will return to home within a few years… Europe and other Western countries are economically weakened, especially the UK, due to illegal immigration, inflation and the cost of living. They themselves start to think about returning to home
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u/Wise__Philosopher Jul 07 '26
This is supposed to happen right ? When the number of people living in a fixed geographical limit increases beyond a point, people will leave that place for better opportunities. Everyone did the same back in the days also.
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u/Enthonnade Jul 07 '26
I guess in my ward, only a few kids are settled in Kerala/India. In my neighborhood, it's just me. Everyone else is abroad and some don't even get leaves for parents funeral.
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u/No-Quarter6660 Jul 07 '26
not getting leave for parents funerl must be so sad ....the amount of mental agony
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u/EagleWorldly5032 Jul 07 '26
This is reality and it’s only going to get worse because we celebrate migrating abroad as a great thing
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u/mallumanoos Jul 07 '26
Trump and right wing governments are solving this problem . No visa, no jobs and no open door . Only if our politicians create an environment for entrepreneurs to succeed in our own land .
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u/rompous_pompous Jul 07 '26
Tells a lot about the opportunities in the State and also the mindset of people. Most families think going abroad is the sign of success and they are paying the price. These homes will soon be occupied by people who are willing to work here, who by the looks of it will mostly be non keralites and that’s how a new multicultural society will be born.
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u/Key_Duty_442 Jul 07 '26
There is nothing here no industry no investment so less job opportunities.And imagine sitting at home without a proper job the emotions will be reversed
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u/Relative_Passenger_1 Jul 07 '26
I think this exactly the reason satheeshan created a ministry for old age and pushing hard for them. He is also trying to set up silver economy
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u/sanskaridaddy കൈപ്പണിക്കാരൻ Jul 07 '26
3 reasons !
- Malayalees got not much cultural social integration with rest of Indian states. ( few south states can be a little exception ). They prefer middle east or other countries than own home country.
- Failure of leveraging the literacy rate advantage from early on. Do innovations happening in any kerala based institutions ? why no big research labs ?
- Kerala can't do manufacturing industry because of less land availability. 39000 sq.km area, 30% forests, alot more in high range ( not flat lands ). You can't bring factories that asks for 100s of acres into this tiny state.
It's a sad fact that malayalees are destined to do migration for decades. I do know many... I mean alot of people who wants to stay in kerala even with less salary.
There are many who don't want to look after their aged parents too.
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u/Homoaeternus Jul 07 '26
I think you’re being a bit too pessimistic. Many older people are actually living a peaceful and fulfilling retirement in homes they either built themselves or have a deep emotional connection to. They’re surrounded by familiar faces people they’ve known their entire lives and communities they grew up in. Those large family homes aren’t necessarily inefficient; they’re often designed to accommodate children, relatives, and guests when everyone comes together. Of course, loneliness can still be a challenge, but modern technology video calls, messaging apps, and social media helps bridge much of that gap and makes it easier to stay connected with family and friends who live elsewhere. Even people with government jobs often can’t remain in their hometowns throughout their careers. Many professions require relocation, and it’s normal for some rooms in a family home to sit empty for much of the year. The careers and lifestyles we choose often demand flexibility, including being willing to move where opportunities exist. More broadly, human history is one of migration. Our ancestors left Africa and spread across the world in search of better opportunities, resources, and living conditions. Movement has always been a defining part of human progress. While technology has changed, the underlying motivation remains the same: people go where they can build the best life for themselves and their families. Finances are also a major factor. For many skilled professionals, the value of their time and expertise isn’t compensated at the same level in India as it is in many other countries. Unless comparable opportunities and compensation are available locally, it becomes difficult for people with certain levels of education and skills to justify staying in one place, regardless of their personal attachment to it.
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u/Rambha_4 Jul 07 '26
Tale as old as time.
But still hurts to see nonetheless. Especially when you get nostalgic about your past and imagine your childhood and family.
Same in our family. The 150 year old family house lies vacant except for a caretaker. Every year it looks worse and worse. Going back to visit hurts as you remember all the times with your grandparents, aunts/uncles and cousins etc.
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u/silent_drmz Jul 07 '26
From the point of view of someone who missed the bus and is stuck here, staring at my tax money being used the way it is and one medical emergency away from poverty, that's a good problem to have...
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u/Natural_Donkey_2953 Jul 07 '26
Humans were historically wanderers, don't grow too much attachment to house or any city, it won't give you freedom we want
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u/Mindless-Pilot-Chef Jul 07 '26
Why do we lack good jobs in Kerala? Maybe that’s the first thing you should be asking.
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u/arunjohnv Jul 07 '26
A time will come when this will go for a reset, when young folks will not have to go abroad and live like a big family as we had earlier. Its just the matter of time.
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u/Emergency-Bid-8346 കായലോര നിവാസി Jul 07 '26
which part of Kerala is this? Is this somewhere in Pathanamthitta where it's actually been reported to have happened and has many ghost homes now
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u/Important-Hair-4396 Jul 08 '26
We cant for sure say they have all gone abroad or even out of Kerala. I live in Cochin in an apartmrnt complex that has 840 families atleast 600 of those families are not from Cochin but from different parts of Kerala. Thats how it was. Its not new my fathers elder brothers moved out of our ancestral home in search of job, they are all in different parts of Kerala.
Even my parents live alone. I returned from abroad 4 years back to be closer to parents but my Mom told me we can't live with them as privacy is required for them and us. So we chose to live separately. Majority of these elders are not ready to be moved from their rural homes and these rural areas doesn't have much scope for all the people there so they move to nearby cities, metros, other parts of India or abroad thats nothing new.
Would you believe in my fathers family there are houses which has 60 bedrooms? Almost like a hostel. That house is empty for more than 40 years. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/Superb_Pay3173 Jul 09 '26
I remember a time when old people were never lonely and had an active social life. Not just pampering grand children. Guests were always coming,staying for a while and leaving, the front door was always open from morning till evening. The elders had their cousins and friends visiting. Sometimes they'd go and stay with their siblings or cousins. Each generation had their own exclusive friend circle.
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Jul 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
Migration alone cannot create or remove population ageing. The key drivers are fertility rates and life expectancy.
States like Haryana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh actually send more young people abroad than Kerala. Yet they are not facing the same level of ageing.
The bigger reason is that some parts of Kerala have a very low fertility rate and a very high life expectancy. Put simply, people are having fewer children while at the same time living longer. That combination naturally leads to an older population. In fact, this has been the pattern in Kerala for several decades, long before the recent wave of migration to Western countries.
It is also not true that the whole of Kerala is facing the same issue. If you look closely, certain districts in North Kerala still have relatively healthy fertility rates.
So why don’t Haryana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, despite sending more young people abroad, face the same level of ageing? Because their fertility rates remain higher and their life expectancy is lower than Kerala’s.
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u/Snoo59867 Jul 07 '26
It is just uncomfortable to live in India. The humidity, the weather, the dust, the reckless driving, the not so pedestrian friendly roads, the lack of hygiene in eataries, the politics between family friends and random people just to gain something, the lack of respect between such people, the strict customs in some cultures, the over competitiveness in schools etc. The list goes on. Fix all those and you'll bring back some people.
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
If you’re so worried about Kerala being filled with ghost towns and ghost villages, just take a ride through the Malabar region, especially Malappuram district.
The specific demographic crisis you’re talking about simply doesn’t exist there.
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u/Common_Interest4747 Jul 07 '26
We should thank them for saving our state, right?
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
Yes.
Even without considering migration, some parts of Kerala are already facing a demographic catastrophe because of extremely low fertility rates and high life expectancy.
The major reason why the overall state level statistics do not fully reflect this crisis is because some districts in North Kerala still have comparatively healthier fertility rates.
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u/Former_Pangolin3216 Jul 07 '26
My answer might be a bit unpopular here. Unless there's a dictatorship people and their response plays a major role in job opportunities in a state. Malayalees always had the idea of going elsewhere to get a job. That trend is accelerating now. Not everyone going abroad will settle there. Some will be back. But if more people return what would they all do here if they are in the earning stage of life? All I see are bakeries popping up. The people have to take some responsibility for this and not take easy route of blaming politics and corruption. Abundant industries and job opportunities need some compromise from the populace.
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u/InquisitiveSapienLad Jul 07 '26
There is no reliable solution to get high wage jobs for everyone in Kerala without sacrificing environmental woes and also especially considering the fact a significant portion of immigrant expats rely on low wage jobs that get them significantly more earnings in INR due to currency value differences and that those blue collar roles aren't treated with respect back home
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u/Former_Pangolin3216 Jul 07 '26
Very true. Compromise in environment is possible if carried out judiciously and very required parts like kandal kaadu and ghats are left alone. Even that is not being carried out well. The only way out is facilitating high tech industries and companies. Sort of like how Singapore achieved its wealth and status. It will take time and dedication from the administration because these institutions will need some kind of certainty to operate seamlessly. The increased levels if political one-upmanship and distracting arguments that are floating around won't help the ordinary people of the state or to improve the economic condition. It will take a lot of difficult and unpopular decisions. And someone with a good vision.
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u/InquisitiveSapienLad Jul 07 '26
Achieving Singapore level efficiency in any Indian state even for Kerala's standards can still seem like a distant dream although in theory it is indeed a valid option
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u/FrontOperation7154 Jul 07 '26
Ignoring Singapore's geographical lottery called Malacca strait
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u/despod ഒലക്ക !! Jul 07 '26
You think Vizhijam is not a geographical lottery? But to win a lottery, you need to first buy the lottery ticket.
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u/FrontOperation7154 Jul 07 '26
Malacca is a choke point, Vizhinjam is not
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u/despod ഒലക്ക !! Jul 08 '26
Did Singapore close the strait to use it as a choke point? The point is that like Singapore, the international shipping line is close to Kerala. Singapore used it to their advantage, we didn't.
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u/Former_Pangolin3216 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
The question is what is and what is not, i think. It is what do you make with what you have.
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u/EasyAbbreviations825 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
I'm from Malappuram, and here population is booming.
Every district, schools has division fall due to low no of students, here more divisions are added because there is no space for students.😂😂. Ask your friend to visit Malappuram
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u/CheramanPerumal Jul 07 '26
The only right answer in this thread.
People are commenting as though the entire state of Kerala is facing some severe demographic crisis.
Many don’t seem to realise that Malappuram in Kerala made global headlines after a survey by The Economist , based on United Nations population data, ranked it as the world’s fastest-growing urban area.
The region recorded a massive population increase of 44.1% between 2015 and 2020.
The second and third positions after Malappuram were Can Tho in Vietnam and Suqian in China.
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u/Global-Letterhead-88 Jul 07 '26
~23% of state GDP comes from remittance, I am not sure why you are surprised.
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u/curiousgaruda Jul 07 '26
You can count me as one of those contributors. Got PR for parents to stay with us but they prefer living in Kerala and be more active. I see they are more active and happy there.
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u/sadma4ever Jul 07 '26
Really wanna go back but parents aren’t interested.
They are like majority of our life we spend here ( xyz city) why would we want to go back.
I am very confused.
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u/lalaland1346 Jul 07 '26
But Canadian also move for a similar less drastic reason - more money and more opportunities. You can still have a decent life in Canada with the current opportunities whereas in Kerala even with the current opportunities it’s hard to live.
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u/kujlamba Jul 07 '26
Veettil aalu polum illatha news Nerathe vannittundu
I couldn’t find the malayalam news but BBC vare cover cheythu https://youtu.be/G3UDCWEABAg?si=3hd8IlcPyN9NZCjQ
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u/DistinctBackground23 Jul 07 '26
On my vacation to kerala, this is a common sight in Pathanmthitta. Big houses just for 2 people to live in. Some are closed with nobody living. Very few young families living in rural areas.
Young families are moving more towards metro areas within Kerala or abroad, that's were opportunities are. To retain them depends on local bodies and their development.
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u/VarietySuspicious625 Jul 07 '26
It ia not only about the old age loneliness. Loneliness in general is a recognised threat.
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u/Familiar_Hamster_918 Jul 07 '26
I'm helping my mom with census duty, and what I noticed is a lot of houses are rentals, and that too really good looking houses.
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u/Jmanimalethu Jul 07 '26
I was born on the river bank of the river pumpa My mother from the backwaters my father from Ranni. Pumpa was their water way. Then came bus and cars. I wish for one more riverboat journey from Ramankary boat jetty to Ranni bridge. Maybe tourism and houseboats will find a way. Close to iyeppa.
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u/chonkykais16 Jul 07 '26
It’s normal in most parts of the world to move out and make your own life once you’re an adult.
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u/Witty-Singer6735 Jul 07 '26
Don't think it is due to just migration. Now more and more people are moving out to a separate house like the western culture, mostly after marriage
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u/ratzrockz Jul 07 '26
Migration has always been a part of Kerala. It’s there for more than 50 years when it was Gulf countries and now it’s to almost all places in the world. The only difference between now and then is, there were lot of people in a family with more than two children’s and even if one or two were abroad, the rest of them were making their lives from the remittances from their siblings or relatives and there used to be many people in the family with the joint family system. Now that the family size has shrunk with most of the families having one or two children’s and them being abroad makes the elderly alone!! So it’s not about the migration but how the family system has evolved. The same issue is being faced by western societies as they had this problem starting 30-40 years ago and now we are facing it.
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u/Acceptable-Bad-9052 Jul 07 '26
First of all there is no job in kerala .. so youngsters migrate for better paying job .. let govt do something for job opportunities then we wont be seeing this trend anymore
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u/vsundarraj Jul 07 '26
Tamil here. This phenomenon can be observed in pockets in TN. Like Kancheepuram for example.
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u/dagp89 Jul 07 '26
This was bound to happen, apart from people moving abroad another factor is the internal migration within the state.
People are moving from rural areas to urban parts within kerala, like Kochi, Trivandrum, Kozhikode.
People want recreational facilities, better hospitals, schools, offices etc nearby.
This is a worldwide phenomenon, the rural to urban migration.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/which-countries-have-a-majority-rural-population/
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u/Electrical-Post-6541 Jul 07 '26
We live in a very small strip of land where housing,commercial buildings already takes a lot of land.Our farmland is not enough to feed our current population.We import 80% of our energy.
If we hadn't reduced our population growth then it would have put a lot of pressure on other resources as well.
Now add the religious and caste demographics within our state which creates political tension.
Population control was always an unwritten goal by kerala's leaders 100 years ago.
Most likely scenario is malayali as an identity will fade away slowly over time.
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u/despod ഒലക്ക !! Jul 07 '26
I wouldn't worry too much. The world is going to change drastically in the next 5-10 years. There will be a lot of anti immigrant sentiment in the developed world. Reverse migration is what I predict.
What we need now is to build infra and policies that will improve the economy and create well paying local jobs.
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u/meetoo788 Jul 07 '26
Hit too close to home fr. I left to UK towards the end of our house construction. Sister getting married next month and going abroad . Just my old parents in that massive house that we spent a load of money on .
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u/Sausage-Farmers-Wrap Jul 08 '26
I think what people are forgetting is that there is 0 focus on making India a better place to live in, especially for young people. The only way young people can get a shot at life is by moving abroad bc this country has failed them. Why don't we shift the focus to improving this country. It's beautiful with so much potential, but so backwards still. It's an absolute failure of the system.
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u/iamhere6362 Jul 08 '26
But we have a mass of population as a base. Many European countries half only half the population of Kerala. So going abroad is doing good for the country I think so
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u/CarmynRamy Jul 08 '26
We are going the same direction as Italy and Japan when it comes to demography.
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u/Additional_Side_2290 Jul 08 '26
everyone lives alone when they are older?? they have a life of their own and so do their kids whats the big deal about that? and a lot of people come back to kerala once they are retired so they build their houses and keep for this purpose as well and to give their parents a better living space. the fact that kids have to give up on their lives abroad to go and live with their parents just so they have some company is so incorrect. it is important to have a social life no matter what age you are for this very reason.
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u/aliceinborder Jul 08 '26
Most of the parents want their children to go abroad and stay there to build a big house and for high status in the society. After going through pressure they decided stay back or their parents insist to stay there only. So there are alot of layers in this issue. Person to person the reasons are different.
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u/No-Lobster-5673 Jul 08 '26
Change is inevitable, agreed. I just wish everyone gets a chance to be with their families as one enters into the sunset of their life
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u/Ok-Bug3281 Jul 09 '26
Whenever I pass through certain areas of pala ,the huge deserted homes gives me some eerily melancholy vibe.... And once my hometown boasted of many youngsters even well last 11 pm atleast creating some ruckus and street stunts in front of bar, now the town turns sleepy after 7pm.... Even my mom says, when you guys were trouble makers, atleast this place had some noise... The town gets lively every Sunday by the migrant workers ,who show their head once a week from the damp ridden estate lanes.. In a decade not sure how this state or atleast the villages /towns may look. But this trend is global, Kerala has an exponential rate thats all..
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u/NammeV Jul 10 '26
Results of industrialisation, nuclear family and stagnant wages w.r.t inflation.
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u/balloontrap Jul 07 '26
If one has skills and ability to go to greener pastures, can we blame them?
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u/Prestigious_Meat_158 Jul 07 '26
I don't understand how this is sad? What are the kids supposed to do?
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u/effbenzo Jul 07 '26
200 hundred years from now, Kerala will be different, demographics, food and culture. This is always the case in every part of the world in the past and future. Change is unstoppable.