Aboobakker siddhuique darul huda islamic university kerala, india

2.1.1 Historical Background of Kerala

Kerala is a state of independent India, which situates in the s south west coast of India representing only 1.18 percent of the total area of India and 3.4 percent of the Indian population.¹⁶ The state constitutes 14 districts and the total Muslim population of it as per the census of 2001 is 23.33 percent of the total population.¹⁷ According to the geographical feature the Kerala situates from north latitude between 8⁰ 18’ and 12⁰ 48^’ and from south 74^o 58^’ and 77^o 25’^. In north part Karnataka, south part Indian sea, east Sahyadri Mountains (Western Ghats) and west Arabian Sea are the boundaries of Kerala. 38, 863 sqmr is the total strength, and in total length of India it reaches near 1.18% and it is in 20^th position among Indian states in largeness.¹⁸

There are many views and opinions about the emerging of Kerala. Kerala situates between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea. The Kerala also known in other names also like Malabar among many historians. Many historians introduced Kerala by calling Malabar. It is said the word Malabar is derived from local people’s language when they calling this Mala varam¹⁹ (down slope) then people called Malabar because it lays between the ayi means ocean and mountains. This latter came to known as Malabar.²⁰

2.1. 2 History of Mappila s and contacts with Arabs

The Muslim community lived in Kerala are called Mappila (means great personalities).²¹ The excellent behavior of a good community like patriotic, affection for freedom, altruism enthusiasm towards knowledge was found profoundly in Mappila community. The word Mappila is derived from the two Dravidian words, Maha (great) and Pilla (child).²² Moreover, it is derived from Arabic word “Ma fallah” non-cultivators as it is reported from Said Badger writer of Arab dictionary.²³

They have a great role in freedom struggle series of Indian freedom movement. The Mappila people who lived mainly in the northern part of the Kerala were famous for their freedom struggles and movements,²⁴ which finally culminated in Malabar kalapam or Mappila lahala (Mappila struggle). This was not an outburst occurred in a single day but was one of those series of fights against foreign empires.²⁵ They protested against imperial powers like British, Portuguese, and Dutch. The scholars and leaders like Sayyid Alawi Mampuram, Umar Qāzi Velayangod, Qāḍi Muhammad (the author of fath al-mubīn)²⁶ and Kunchali Marakkar,²⁷ were the leaders of this team. The Mappila community has a good legacy in educational field also.²⁸ There are different kinds of writings invented by Malabar people like mala pattu, qissa pattu, and so on.

2.1.3 Emergence of Islam in Kerala and situations of then Muslims

Islam is the second largest religion of Kerala. In Kerala Islam has a great history. Many historians recorded an account of documents about the emergence of Islam in Kerala. The people from its beginning in 9-15 centuries warmly welcomed Islam. The land is greatly populated by the coming of missionary teams under the leadership of Mālik Dīnar and his companions.

It is obvious from historical records, that Islam in Kerala reached by merchant and trade groups. Spreading of Islam in Kerala has been indisputably proved that Arabia had trade relations with Indian ports long before the establishment of the Roman Empire. In the historical documents, it is said that the Kerala was described as bilād al fulful ²⁹ by the Arabs. Which means the “land of pepper”³⁰ and these trade contacts helped hugely for the cooperation between the two subcontinents and the advent of Islam in Indian shores during the early period of Islam and the formation of an innate cultural entity.

The longstanding Arab contact with the coastal area of India has made great influence on Keralite people. The navigators and tradesmen came from Arabian shores and some of them settled in the coastal areas marrying local women. They never brought women folk from Arabia. The native rulers extended all facilities and protection to them because their presence was needed for the prosperity of the Rajas. Kerala was also one of the most important areas on the western coast of India where the Arabs found a fertile soil for the trade procedures. This community formed in Kerala because of the Arab contact, was latterly came to be known as Mappila, (means Mahapillas i.e, great personalities)

In Kerala, Muslims had a good influence in every field especially political and educational fields, but gradually with the coming of Europeans and other imperial powers, Muslims focused to drive out and get rid of these colonial powers, thus their valuable and precious times were spent to prevent these colonial powers. As the result of this, many conflicts and bloodshed movements occurred here, like Malabar revolt. These insurgencies prevented them from engaging in other creative activities. Therefore, we can find number of martyrs and their histories from historical documents. Many martyrs who dedicated their life for the sake of Islam and to secure Islam from the hands of cruel emperors. They are called as shuhadā³¹ like Kunchali Marakkār,³² Cheroor Shuhadākkal, Kuttichira Shuhādakal, and Pukottur Shuhadākal. As a part of honoring and commemorating them, many functions like Urūs are conducted normally in most places.

2.2 GEOGRAPHICAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF KASARAGOD
Kasargod is a district situated on the northern tip of Kerala in south India.³³ Kasargod situates extreme north boundary of Kerala in west Arabian Sea, in south Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state and in east Koorg district in north Kannur district are the boundaries of Kasaragod.³⁴

Kasargod was declared as a district on 24 May 1984. Now Kasargod situates in the extreme northern part and that is the last (14^th) district in the State; Total strength is 1991.3 sqkm. It was a taluk under that name in the South Canara (D.K) District of Madras Presidency until the formation of linguistic states in 1956. At present, there are 127 Census Villages or 75 Revenue Villages (or group villages), 39 Panchayaths, 4 Development Blocks and 2 taluks in Kasargod district³⁵.

Among the I4 districts, the rank of Kasargod has been one of the lowest and much below the state average defined in terms of socio-economic and health development indicators, it is one of the few districts with a significant proportion of Muslim population. The religious composition reveals that Hindus, Muslim and Christians constitute 55 Percent, 37 percent and 8 percent respectively. Muslims are second largest populated community.³⁶ According to 2001 survey total population is 12, 03,342. This is 3.78% when it comes to the state level³⁷. It is the fact the Kasargod is considered as the land of multi linguistic people who speak more than five languages like Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Marathi, etc as their home tongue.³⁸