(Google map timeline of my South tour) The Subtle Power of Literacy Did you ever wonder how literacy makes difference on a broader perspective? Well, then Kerala (popularly known as God's Own Country) might have an answer for you. In India, state Kerala has the highest literacy rate which hovers around 96.2 cents, way higher than the national average of 77.7 cents. Here is a story. On a delightful morning around Nov-2020, I was hovering on the roof of my PG at Trivandrum, Kerala. The time was atypical as the Coronavirus cases were soaring in the state shutting the vibrant tourism industry of GODS OWN COUNTRY. From the roof, I saw a pedlar wearing a mask selling breakfast on his Luna motorcycle. Upon arrival of a customer, he got down the bike, sanitized his hands, pulled an elastic glove in his hand, handed over the Puttu-kadala curry (a variety of breakfast) and gently put his glove back to its place. he repeated it fo...