1

The first European power to reach India through the sea.

Portuguese in 1498. They reached Kozhikode, in the north Kerala.

2

The first fort in India built by the Europeans.

Fort Manual in Kochi was built by the Portuguese and named after the Portuguese ruler Manual.

3

The European powers who reached India and Kerala for trade in the 15th Century.

The Portuguese, the Dutch, the English and the French.

4

The first Indian ruler to defeat the European power.

Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma the ruler of Venad (later Travancore) defeated the Dutch in the war of Colachel in 1741.

5

The European power to leave India last

The Portuguese

6

India got independence from the British

On 15th August 1947

7

India became Republic

On 26th January 1950

8

The European powers which continued in India even after India became a Republic

The French and the Portuguese.

9

Kerala was formed

On 1st November 1956

10

The first Communist Ministry in India

Was formed in Kerala. The ministry was led by E M S Namboothirippad.

11

The number of Stats in the Indian Union

28 including Kerala

12

The number of Union territories in India

Seven

13

National Symbols

Four lions facing four directions with Asoka Chakra at its base. It is designed after the Asoka Pillar in Saranath. Our motto “Satyameva Jayathae” (Truth alone triumphs) is adapted from the Mundakopanishad is inscribed in the Devanagiri script.

14

National Flag

The tricolor flag has saffron, white and green with the wheel of Asoka on the white in the middle. There are no separate flags for the states.  

15

National Anthem

“Jana gana mana”.. composed by Rabindranath Tagore. There no separate songs for the states.