Things Bengalis & Malayalees Have In Common

If the title has shocked you, then be ready to get further shocked as we are conclusively going to prove that the East can meet the South! Yes, it is true that the race of the Bengalis and Malayalees are separated by distance. They are also separated by the distinction of language and culture. And yet, there are some uncanny things that are common in Bengalis and Malayalees.

Both these Indian communities have very strong identities and thus, it is not hard to spot their similarities with one another. If you are wondering what could be similar between a Bengali and a Malayalee, then get ready to be surprised! Typical Bongs and hardcore Mallus alike may actually find this comparison interesting.

So before the Bengalis and Malayalees attack us with brickbats, it is best if we get down to proving our point. There are certain aspects that are common in Bengali and Malayalee culture and they are...

Fish

Both Bongs and Mallus cannot survive without fish on their plate. Both these communities are big fish eaters. It probably has something to do with both areas being coastal. But culture plays a huge part in it.

The Left

Both Bengalis and Malayalees are traditionally leftists. That means they support left wing politics or quite simply communism. Politics is ingrained in the very root of the two cultures and cannot be separated from Bong or Mallu identity.

The Bookworm

Both Bongs and Mallus are avid readers. You will find very few Bengalis who have not read at least 10 authors whose name they cannot pronounce. Same goes for Malayalees. They are very well read as a community.

Armchair Politics

It is hard to find a Bengali or Malayalee household where people do not literally 'discuss' about political issues. Not only do they have heated arguments about politics but also believe that it is the duty of every citizen to do so.

Rice Eaters

Both Malayalees and Bengalis are big time rice eaters. We cannot imagine having our meals without ample portions of rice. Actually, the cuisine of these two places is such that you cannot help but have rice with the delicious curries.

Backwaters

Even in terms of physical features, Bengal and Kerala are very similar. Kerala has the backwaters where the river meets the sea. In Bengal, there is huge delta of Sunderbans where the rivers wash over into the ocean.

Argument

The term 'argumentative' has been coined keeping in mind the nature of Bengalis and Malayalees. They can argue about almost anything under the sun. The outcome of the argument is irrelevant. But Bongs and Mallus just love debate.

Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan is a film actress who is Malayalee by birth. However, she made her debut in Hindi movies in the role of Parineeta, a famous Bengali novel character. This Bong image was so strong that there are many Bengalis who still think Vidya Balan is actually a Bengali!

Love Of Football

In this cricket crazy nation, there are very few people who actually love football with all their heart. But both Bongs and Mallus love their football. They particularly like the yester-years football stars like Pele and Ronaldo.

Paan Benaras Wala

There few pleasures in life that money cannot buy. Chewing paan after a heavy lunch leisurely is one such pleasure. Both Bengalis and Malayalees love paan and all the accompaniments that come with it.