The CPI(M) pulled wool over the national chatteratti’s eyes for decades by claiming to be champions for the underdog. But only a home-grown Malayali and Bengali knew the truth. Their professions to “human rights”, “equity”, “democratic principles”, etc, ended at the border of the state. While tourism hacks eulogised “God’s own country”, Kerala actually competed with West Bengal for the position of purgatory of Indian Marxism-Leninism.