The crisis of the old-fashioned left in Europe is well known and discussed in broad public. On the other hand, less is told about the challenges facing the traditional left in former colonies. The study addresses the case in Kerala in South India, searching answers why indigenism gains ground on the account of class based political thinking among adivasis – outcasts of the caste system – and why they became disappointed by the paternalist ideology of the communist party? The study also shows that the self-organization of adivasis does not exclude the cooperation with the traditional left.