Seventy-five years. That’s how long the Delhi Malayalee Association has been a home away from home for Keralites in Delhi. Established in 1949, the Kerala Samajam began as a union for laborers. These laborers had come to Delhi as domestic help for bureaucrats.
RMS Nair, a long-time Delhi resident, remembers those early days. He recalls the Kerala Samajam meetings held in members’ houses. Today, the Kerala Samajam has its own central office in R.K. Puram. It is a cultural center for Malayalis. The red building features reliefs of a Kathakali dancer and an elephant.
The Delhi Malayalee Association is popularly known as DMA. It serves around one million Keralites in Delhi and the National Capital Region. The Kerala Samajam has 30 branches. It enriches Delhi’s social and cultural life. It effectively showcases Kerala’s art and culture.
The Kerala Samajam promotes national integrity and social welfare. Enhanced education and women’s empowerment are also priorities. It fosters a sense of fraternity. The Kerala Samajam embraces human values from all religions. It welcomes all regardless of gender, caste, creed, or social status.
The Kerala Samajam played a role in establishing four Kerala schools. These schools are affiliated with the Kerala Education Society. The association also revitalized the Kathakali Centre in Delhi. This is the only such institution outside of Kerala. The Kerala Samajam collaborates with the Kerala government. Together they set up Malayalam learning centers. The central office houses a library with over 5,000 books.
The International Centre for Kathakali is supported by the Kerala Samajam. The aim is to nurture Kathakali. This is a traditional art form of Kerala. The Kerala Samajam ensures the ethnic, cultural, and heritage-related aspects are not compromised.
The Kerala Samajam offers financial aid. They help struggling Malayali families. They pay for medical and educational expenses. The Kerala Samajam stood strong during the Covid-19 pandemic. They provided oxygen and formed cremation taskforces. The Kerala Samajam coordinated with nurses’ unions to help people access medical care.
The Kerala Samajam also provides aid to Kerala. During the 2018 floods, they contributed over 35 lakh rupees. This money came from Delhi’s Malayalis.
The Kerala Samajam conducts weekly classes. These classes cover art and dance forms of Kerala. Kalaripayattu, kathakali, and bharatanatyam are taught. Musical instruments like the chenda are also taught.
The Kerala Samajam plans to set up an evening college. This will be for students from economically weaker sections. They are working with the Delhi government and Delhi University.
The Delhi Malayalee Association is more than just an organization. It is a lifeline. It connects people to their roots. It provides support and celebrates Kerala culture in Delhi. The Kerala Samajam is always just a call away for Malayalis.