maritime activities economy and social customs of the muslims of ...

Ki!akkarai had a concentration of considerable number of maritime traders and shlp owners. The
descendants of Periathambi Marakkayar (Seethakkathi) continued the traditional sea faring activities One
such descendant of Periathambi Mamkkayar was Habib Marakkayar ln the first quarter of nineteenth century
popularly known as Habib h r i h r - king) . He was also know as merchant prince He was a trader
ul gemstones and owner of many ships and had trade contacts in Ceylon and Bengal. For many years he
was also the rentor of pearl fishery in the Gulf of Manaar. He was in the good book of the British. In 1809,
he was permitted by the English authorities in Ceylon to pass through the main gates of the fort In a
palanquin. His son Sheik Sodakkathulla Marakkayar was permitted to use the same honours and seperate
msignias, by the Ceylon Government in 1823. Habib Mamkkayar's brother, AMul kadar Sahib Marakkayar
was a trader of repute and was well respected by the Ceylon Government. In 1821, when he went on a
pilgrimage to Mecca all the dies of the Engiish were asked to extend their help to him slnce he had fair and
honest transactions in Ceylon. Habib Mamkkayar built the Cholia mosque in Culcutta (which is knm by the
same name even to this day) and the Odakkarai Mosque at Kilakkarai He also built many chavadis for the
convenience of gem traderr at Culcutta and Rameswaram. He was a great philanthropist and patronised
many Muslim Tamil p t s and was instrumental to publish many Islamic Tamil literary works. Cubby
Mohamed Marakkayar was another noted buslness man and a survey report of the Engl~sh says that "
Kirai was the residence of Cubby Mohamed MaraWcayar, a wealthy merchant and the chief of the tow.
' Aharned Jalaludeen Marakkayar owned seven mercantile ships and he had extensive trade connect~ons
with other Coromandel ports and Ceylon 92. Sultan AMul Kadar Marakyar was another shipowner
In Kilakkarai. Rajanayagarn, one of the Islamic Tamil epics of 1807, extrol his trading activities and
philonthropyg3. Mapillai Labbai Alim (1816-1896) was a prominant gemstone trader, philanthropist.
poet and mystic of Kadiria tharikka. He was so influencial and powerful in Corornandel Coast and
Ceylon, that he could collect one rupee on every boat in Ceylonese coast for his Aroosia Thaikka
(Arabic learning centre) at Kilakkarai. He had rendered significant religious se~ce
in Ceylon. His son
Syed Abdul Kadir Marakkayar (1846 - 1912) was a maritime trader and mystic of' Kadiria ~harikka~~
Vappu Naina Pihi Marakkayar was a ship owner and trader in Kilakkarai. HIS sons Syed Kasim
Marakkayar. Muthu lbrahii Marakkayar, Kirudu Naina Marakkayar. Mohideen AMul Kadar Marakkayar
and Syed Mohamd Marakkayar were a!so prominant maritime traders They were trading with Ceylon.