The Nepal Princess Hitler The Man From India
she said sympathetically, “Half Russian, half Indian.”
I gave her a nasty look.
“Okay, okay, no need to irritate your ulcer; I was just kidding. Which part of India?” she asked.
“Kerala,” I was still un- mollified.
She gave a low whistle before saying, “Hmmm! The southern state on the western coast of India…. the land of coconuts, spices and, of course elephants.”
I couldn’t resist, “Are you trying to make an impression?”
The sarcasm was lost on her as she continued, “Before India’s independence in 1947, Kerala consisted of many small kingdoms, primarily the states of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar. Trivandrum is the present capital and Cochin, the principal city.”