--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: it could be argued that it actually began…" description: "\"“it could be argued that it actually began thousands of years ago. Long before the Marxists came. Before the British took Malabar, before the Dutch Asc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/arundhati-roy-346_christianity_it-could-be-argued-that-it-actually-bega_2471594.jpg" --- # it could be argued that it actually began thousands of… ![“it could be argued that it actually began thousands of years ago. Long before the Marxists came. Before the British took Malabar, before the Dutch Ascendency, before Vasco da Gama arrived, before the Zamorin’s conquest of Calicut. Before three purple-robed Syrian Bishops murdered by the Portuguese…” quote by Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/arundhati-roy-346_christianity_it-could-be-argued-that-it-actually-bega_2471594.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/arundhati-roy-346_christianity_it-could-be-argued-that-it-actually-bega_2471594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/arundhati-roy-346_christianity_it-could-be-argued-that-it-actually-bega_2471594.jpg) > ““it could be argued that it actually began thousands of years ago. Long before the Marxists came. Before the British took Malabar, before the Dutch Ascendency, before Vasco da Gama arrived, before the Zamorin’s conquest of Calicut. Before three purple-robed Syrian Bishops murdered by the Portuguese were found floating in the sea, with coiled sea serpents riding on their chests and oysters knotted in their tangled beards. It could be argued that it began long before Christianity arrived in a boat and seeped into Kerala like tea from a teabag. That it really began in the days when the Love Laws were made. The laws that lay down who should be loved, and how. And how much. HOWEVER, for practical purposes, in a hopelessly practical world . .”” [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote traces the deep historical roots of Kerala’s social structures, predating colonial and religious influences, and suggests that love‑based laws shaped society long before external forces arrived. **In simple terms:** Kerala’s love rules predate colonizers and Christianity. Key Takeaway Recognize how ancient customs still influence modern life. Themes history colonialism social norms law love Mood reflective critical Type analytical historical When to use this quote - academic research - policy analysis - community dialogue - heritage preservation Key Concepts cultural continuity power dynamics identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How do ancient love laws affect today’s social relations? - What other forces have shaped Kerala’s identity? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex histories into a single narrative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Arrived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-arrived-766749/) [Long Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-christianity-766750/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-laws-452115/) [Really Began](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-began-766751/) [Vasco Da Gama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vasco-da-gama-227182/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [That it really began in the days when the Love Laws were made. 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Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [The failure of love, that's what all laws are really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/the-failure-of-love-that-s-what-all-laws-are-really/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) ## More by Arundhati Roy > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. 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