Back when it was almost unthinkable to speak of Malayalam literature or Kerala culture in an English department... a quiet revolution began. Kerala Studies took root at the Institute of English nearly two decades ago—long before it became a core paper in 2013. Today, it is evolving into an integral component of the course every student joins for in the 4-Year UG programme across Kerala’s higher education institutions. Here’s a glimpse into the early days of Kerala Studies at the Institute—a story of resistance against the colonial foundations of M.A. English Language and Literature programmes and reimagining what we teach in the name of "English" - envisioned by Prof. G. S. Jayasree. By 2025, offering Kerala Studies in English departments in higher education institutions under the Government of Kerala has become a common and expected practice, no longer seen as anything out of the ordinary.  But there was a time when discussing even those narratives in Malayalam that had En...