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

Not knowing the technological revolutions around them they were satisfied with their traditional
way of life and 1earning.h thelast decades of nineteenth century there were only about 80
Muslim students in Arts Colleges. There were only 450 students in secondary schools and the
number in primary schools was 45915235. Thus the aversion of the Muslims for modern
education and technologies widened the gap and caused a gulf and created barrier in their
social and economic development to the generations to come236.
By 1900, the masters of maritime commerce, the Marakkayars, Labbais, Sonakars and
Rowthars were reduced to small and petty traders and intermediaries to the English and local
artisans and peasants. Their independent economic stability and social standing were cut
short due to the various causes enumerated above. Thus at the dawn of the twentyth century
the enterprises of the Coromandel Muslims became the story of the past and forgotten
unsung.