THE SPREAD of malayalees around the world has been far and wide. They are virtually every where in the world. Malayalees are found all over the world in good numbers except in some isolated pockets. It is often joked that one could find a Malayalee even at the moon.

Four out of the five families in Kerala have at least one member of their family abroad. The migration of Malayalees are largely for educational and job opportunities. They are one of the largest emigrant communities in India.

It is estimated that Kerala has 1.8 million expatriate populations with a heavy concentration of Malayalees in gulf countries. United States stands as the next favourite destination. The primary requisiteness to interact with like-minded persons and to organize the community to acquire collective strength in alien land has coerced them to structure associations.

These associations were the outcome of expatriate populations desire to have a common platform to interact and exhibit their skills as well as to satisfy their cultural and social needs and to break away from the deliberately cultivated and mechanical images and accumulate affinity about homeland and to celebrate those occasions which they used to have while at home in Kerala.

At places like USA where there is a sizeable Malayalee community at every major city, several local organisations sprang up to cater to their needs. And to co-ordinate their activities apex organisations like World Malayalee Council and FOKANA have emerged.

Several Malayalee associations are working in the Middle East where the expatriate population numbers in large proportions. And the multiplicity of associations forms the peculiar factor for this part of the earth.

This could be due to the presence of large number of emigrants or the desire of a particular group to have its own members controlling their group interests. Even with all the disadvantages these associations are doing commendable work in arranging a platform to interact and celebrate common occasions.