A tale of two ‘erstwhile’ Left bastions: As Malayalis leave Kolkata, Bengalis find a home in Kerala

The Indian Express

It was the lure of white collar jobs that saw Malayalis land in Kolkata by thousands in the 50s and 60s. In 1951, the 50,000-strong community in city set up the Calcutta Malayali Samaj - a non-political, albeit heavily Left-leaning platform. But as Kerala went to polls Monday, and with West Bengal having just completed its Assembly elections, the Malayali community here has depleted considerably. Office bearers of the Samaj say that there are not more than 10,000 Malayalis living in Kolkata.

Retired librarian of the National Library in Kolkata and office bearer of the Calcutta Malayali Samaj Kuchu Koshy says that Malayalis used to throng to Kolkata. “Essentially because of the opportunities available here. The largest number of private companies were based here. There were factories and industries. That is no longer the case. Also, Kolkata has no opportunity left for job seekers and even for those seeking education. The Malayalis have started leaving the city. The retired went back home to Kerala. The youth left for jobs in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune. There are just some of us left here,” he says.

Politically well versed, Koshy is quick to point out that it is “not a coalition” between the Left and Congress in Bengal. “I don’t see this as a big anomaly as against what is happening in Kerala where the parties are arch rivals. This is simply an electoral understanding. There is no other way to get rid of the TMC here.” says Koshy.

© express news service Picture of Kolkata. (Representational image)

Bengal and Kerala have always been linked intricately. Politically these are the only two states, which have a strong Left. The raging political debate in the past two months has been how the two parties that are arch rivals in Kerala, can be partnering a fight against the TMC in Bengal. Aspersions made by both the TMC and the BJP has been that this has been a highly opportunistic move on the part of the Left and the Congress.

Politics aside the two states are also linked by its people. While the Malayali migration might have ceased in Bengal, a reverse migration has commenced over the past few years. Now Bengalis make up for one of the highest non-Malayali populations there - as many as 25 lakh Bengalis from West Bengal live in Kerala at the present time.

“This is because there many jobs available in Kerala and even the daily wage is one of the highest in country. In Kolkata, a daily wager makes Rs 250-300 a day, in Kerala the same person can make Rs 1200,” says Koshy. A severe shortage of work force in Kerala — most Keralites work in the middle east and with a high literacy rate those remaining don’t work as daily wagers - Bengalis now comprise a large portion of that state’s work force in the construction industry, hotels, brick kilns and even as jewellers. Two very different paths taken by two erstwhile Communist states in the country.

Senior journalist with the CPM-owned newspaper Deshabhimani, N Gopi, who is based in Kolkata says that the politics of the two states have changed in the past two decades. “A Keralite in Bengal, like any other community, doesn’t necessarily vote for the Left. Malayalis here vote for the TMC, Congress and even the BJP. As a matter of fact a Malayali - Shivadasan - has contested this election on a TMC ticket from Bardhaman district. In the 2006, another Malayali journalist was a TMC candidate from Dum Dum. The TMC so far doesn’t even exist in Kerala,” says Gopi.

He points out that the entire South Indian population in Kolkata is now a paltry one lakh. A Malayali colony exists in Behala in South Kolkata but many are still leaving. “There was a time when not only in Kolkata but also in Asansol, Siliguri, Barrackpore and Kharagpur there were a large number of Malayalam and Telegu speaking people. No if you go to Galangy block in Murshidabad, you will find that every household has at least one member living and working in Kerala. Officials figures say that 15 per cent of this block has migrated to Kerala, unofficially it is much higher,” he adds.