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Jenifer Rajkumar introduces bill to designate Malayalee Heritage Month in NY
The legislation acknowledges the growing influence of this community in American public life, business, medicine, and civic engagement.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 22, May 2025
- 15:34 EDT
- 19
Jenifer Rajkumar / File Photo
New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar introduced a legislative resolution on May 22 to designate May 2025 as Malayalee Heritage Month in the state.
Assembly Resolution No. 558 recognizes the cultural contributions of the Malayali people—originating from Kerala, India—and their significant presence across New York. It underscores the broader achievements of Asian and Asian-Pacific Islander Americans, with a particular focus on the Malayali community’s role in enriching the state’s cultural landscape.
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According to the 2012 U.S. Census, approximately 644,097 people of Malayalam heritage reside in the United States, with the largest concentrations in Bergen County, New Jersey, and Rockland County, New York.
To commemorate the ocassion, Rajkumar, the first Indian American elected to the New York State Legislature, welcomed a delegation of Malayali leaders from across the state to the Assembly session.
Addressing the Assembly, Rajkumar paid tribute to the Pioneer Club of Keralites—one of New York’s oldest Malayali organizations—and introduced its members from the Assembly floor. “The Pioneer Club represents a trailblazing community of Malayalis, the people of Kerala, a beautiful and vibrant state on the southwestern coast of India, known for its lush greenery, backwaters, high literacy, and deep traditions of pluralism,” she said.
Rajkumar emphasized the cultural unity of the Malayali community across faiths—Christian, Hindu, and others—highlighting their shared values of public service, education, and community leadership. “Kerala is often called God’s own country, and its sons and daughters here in New York carry that spirit with them, giving back as doctors, spiritual leaders, teachers, entrepreneurs, and advocates for justice and peace.”
Several prominent members of the Malayali community were recognized during the session, including Christian Bishop John C. Itty, Hindu guru Dileepkumar Thankappan, and numerous other community leaders and families.
If passed, Malayalee Heritage Month will be observed annually in the state through cultural and educational programs that spotlight Kerala’s traditions and the impact of the Malayali diaspora in New York.
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