Educated Malayalis have been moving out of Kerala in search of jobs, for the last one hundred years, because a relatively high number of people have been passing out every year from educational institutions, but there has always been a paucity of white collar jobs to accommodate their career ambitions. This socio-economic condition in those days forced people to move to various cities in India and abroad. One of the popular destination was Bombay (now rechristened as ‘Mumbai’).
In Mumbai, in the early stages, most of them lived in the island city, that is, from Colaba to Mahim. By 1950s, due to high rentals and shortage of housing, this immigrant population moved to the suburbs, that is, upto Borivali, Mulund and Chembur, and thereafter, even upto Kalyan and Bassein (now rechristened as Vasai). By 1960, when the state of Maharashtra was born, there was a substantial number of Malayalis living at Manickpur village, at Vasai Road, and that very year itself the Bassein Kerala Samajam was established.
On the other hand, Vasai taluka was impacted very positively in the field of education due to the efforts of communities like East Indian Roman Catholic, Gujarati, as also by various political leaders and the education department of the government, which ensured that the percentage of illiteracy would be very less, as compared to many parts of this country. It is into this field that Malayalis made their entrance.
Right from the beginning, Malayalis gave great importance to English medium school education because they themselves were the beneficiaries of this system, and in turn, they desired the same level of proficiency in the next generation.
Nearly eight decades ago, Roman Catholic nuns from Kerala established the Saint Anthony Convent School at Koliwada, Vasaigaon and Carmelite Convent School at Sandor village, Vasaigaon.
In the early 1970s, in Manickpur itself, Joseph Sir established the Maharashtra English School, Isaac Sir established the Nobel English School and BKS started their school. The Nobel English School wound up quickly. The Maharashtra English School lasted for many years, before it was taken over by Carmel Classes, and then shifted to a new building at Agarwal area.
Malayali Catholic Brothers bought a big plot of land at Fatherwadi, Gokhivare village, Vasai East and established the Vidyavikasini High School and Junior College. And around that area, the Saint Joseph High School was also established by a Malayali. Then, Malayali Sisters belonging to Syro Malabar Roman Catholic Church established the Holy Family High School at Evershine City, Vasai East.
The Vasai unit of Saint Thomas Evangelical Church of India established the Saint Peter High School and Junior College at Diwanman village, Vasai West.
Later on, Shibu Nair established the Carmel Classes, which has now grown into a big corporate educational enterprise.
Over the last six decades, hundreds of Malayalis have served in various schools and colleges as teachers, professors, principals and administrators.
Inputs by Biju Cherian
This article is based on the author’s research and perspectives. The publisher claims no responsibility for inaccuracies. Views expressed are the contributor’s alone. Institutions mentioned are not endorsed unless specified.
