Question

What did Swami Vivekananda describe Kerala prior to reformation as?
A) lunatic asylum
B) Madhouse
C) Region in Chaos
D) All of above

Answer 1

Hint: Kerala, India's tropical Malabar Coast state, boasts almost 600 kilometres of Arabian Sea coastline. It's famed for its palm-lined beaches and a network of canals known as the backwaters. Inland, the Western Ghats are a range of mountains with tea, coffee, and spice plantations, as well as wildlife, on their slopes.

Complete answer:
Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk from India. He was a close follower of Ramakrishna, an Indian spiritual who lived in the 19th century. He is credited for bringing Hinduism to the level of a major world religion in the late 19th century by introducing the Indian concepts of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. He is also credited with promoting interfaith consciousness and bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion.

Due to the strong caste structure in Kerala, many social ills such as denial of equal opportunity and exploitation persisted. Clothing, employment, housing, language, and even names were all used to discriminate. Equal opportunities were denied to women. Swami Vivekananda referred to Kerala as a "lunatic asylum" because of this societal situation. Other regions of India had evil habits and practises, and social reform organisations were established to remove them. Similarly, numerous social reform movements were founded in Kerala during the same time period to address these issues.

Kerala may be the only place in the world where cultural invasion has had such a profound impact. Negation of ethnic culture's identity and individuality coexisted with harsh caste prejudice in this area. This is why, despite the fact that caste prejudice remained prevalent throughout India, Vivekananda was obliged to call Kerala a "lunatic asylum." The people of Kerala, who were able to accept Vivekananda's harsh critique with an open mind and in the proper spirit, used the observation of the "lunatic asylum" as a chance for introspection and self-evaluation. The 'Self-treatment' of using Vivekananda's depiction of Kerala is still going on today. So, Swami Vivekananda described Kerala prior to reformation as a lunatic asylum.

Thus, the correct answer is Option A) lunatic asylum.

Note: After calling Kerala a "lunatic asylum," Swami Vivekananda did not just depart. Srimad Ramakrishnananada, one of his fellow saints, was named the reform advocate for south India. He also tasked Sister Nivedita with aiding attorney G.K. Pillai, who was dispatched to the British parliament to inform it of the dire situation in Malabar.