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

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Labbai is another general term used to denote the Tamil speaking Muslims. The census report of 1881, says that " the Labbak are knwm as Coromandel Moplas, with slight admlxure of Amb blood and also natlw converts, they are thrifty. industrious and enterprising, plucky mariners and expert traders and they are distinct from ~arakka~ars~'. They are also called as merchant Mohamedans. The census report of 1891 describes them as a mixed class of people consisting partly compulsory converts to lslam made by the early Muslim invaders and Tippu Sultan 68. It is a fact that vast majority of Indian Muslims are converts. It is said that force was used on several occasions but the existing historical ev~dances does not enable us to estimate either the scale or the effectiveness of such conversion^^^. The myth that lslam was spread by force with sword in one hand and the Quran on the other have no substance with regard to Coromandel Coast. Here the propagatlon of lslam was the achievement of peaceful traders and pious sufi missionaries. The word Labbai seems to be of recent origin, for, in Tamil Lexicon this segment of the Muslims is denoted as Sonagan. The Labbais were textiles and mat weavers in inland, and ship crews, traders in marine products and expert, divers of pearl and chank fishery in the coastal belt. Even at present, both Labbai men and women in some areas earn their living by weaving korai mat. The Manual of Adminiition of Madras Prsidency points out "The Lubbys are exceedingly industrious and enterprising in their habits and pursuits there being no trade or calling which they do not succeed. They are fishermen and boatmen. They are lapidaries, weavers, dyers, jewellers, bazaarmen, boatmakers, shop owners and merchants. Tamil is their mother tongue. In religion they are orthodox Muslims. Thurston says that their title is Rawthar and Marakkayar" 'On. But the Marakkayars consider themselves better than Labbais. Col. Wllks derives the word Labbai from Arabic "Labbaik (here I am) in the sense of a semt or s slave.". Howewr, in the strict lslamic sense, the term denotes a religious teacher or a priest or fU& and it accords with the Hebrew word " Led " meanfng, a priest. The Labbai-Priests, mullas and Khazis are popularly known among the
Muslims of Tamil Nadu as Lovai. It Is correct to infer It in this sense. It Is also used in the same sew by the Indonesian ~uslims~~. However, in due course of time, thii term stayed as the title of a subdivision of Tamil speaking Muslims alone . But the term Labbai b very liberally used by European witers to denote most of the Mush of Coromandel Coast. Prosperous traders and shipowners among the Marakkayars are also mentioned as Labbais in the European trading company records, as will be described in detail in the subsequent chapters. " bbbai" is considered to be a class name for the purpose of educational concessions, in Tamil Nadu at present. MARAKKAYARS Tho Mamkkayars are the dominant group of Muslims in the Coastal tavn of CoromKdel in numerical strength and wealth. Their settlements are essentially urban in character. Most of the Marakkayars are associated with seafaring and maritime activities. The European company records contain a lot of informations about them. The origin and meaning of the term Marakkayar has been obscured and confused because scholars apxxiate it indiscriminately with other sutdivisions ofthe Muslims. Thurston the authority on Castes and Tribes of wuthem India has contradicated himself while giving definitions of various sub divisions of Muslims of Coromandel " Ravuthar or Rowthar " accordtng to him " is a title used by Labbai and ~arakka~ar'~. In the account on Labbai he says that " their titles are Marakkayar (Marakkalam) and Rawthar ( a horsemen)74". The gazetteer of Ramanathapuram known as Marakayars or ~awthar". Different scholars derive the word Marakkayar from different languages and give various Interpretations. Francis derives the word Marakkayar from Arabic " Markab". The Story goes that when the first batch of Muslim migrants landed ashore they were naturally asked who they were and whence they came. In answer, they pointed their boat and Pronounced the word " Markab " and they in consequence came to be knom to the Hindus
Page 1 and 2:
MARITIME ACTIVITIES ECONOMY AND SOC
Page 3 and 4:
During my field work. I interviewed
Page 5 and 6:
J RAJA MOHAMAD CURATOR GOVERNMENT M
Page 7 and 8: Key to Abbrevlmtlonm ARE ARP BOR FS
Page 9 and 10: Chapter - I INTRODUCTION A study of
Page 11 and 12: However the Muslims were no match t
Page 14 and 15: Secondary Sources Castes and Tribes
Page 16 and 17: Chapter two outlines the geographic
Page 18 and 19: at Tranquebar. Their trading activi
Page 20 and 21: At the beginning of nineteenth cent
Page 22 and 23: There were Muslim weavers in large
Page 24 and 25: The Tamil speaking Muslims of Corom
Page 26 and 27: and they have been pooled together
Page 28 and 29: Chapter I1 THE COROMANDEL COAST The
Page 30 and 31: community of the present day Tamil
Page 33 and 34: Most of the Coromandel ports were l
Page 35 and 36: trading communltles and their settl
Page 37 and 38: acquired the knowledge about the oc
Page 39 and 40: Kenneth Hall. op. dt. p - 167. A.R.
Page 41 and 42: polygais reorganised the admlnistra
Page 43 and 44: In 1736 the rulers of Tamil country
Page 45 and 46: SethupathkofRamaMthapaoam. Lwas~fra
Page 47 and 48: Chapter IV THE MUSLIMS OF COROMANDE
Page 49 and 50: M~~llnlppattu, Ncd~~nnlvndnl,Prr~~m
Page 51 and 52: wife but also a pbce for board and
Page 53 and 54: Yonakar street or Yon street even t
Page 55 and 56: to be the merchant guild of the Mus
Page 57: which is considered to be a subcast
Page 61 and 62: inscription and said the term marak
Page 63 and 64: No doubt this is to enhance their e
Page 65 and 66: The Portuguese used this plural hon
Page 67 and 68: CHOUAS The Wrds of the Dutch, Engli
Page 69 and 70: W. Roboltson Smlth, Mp and manisge
Page 71 and 72: 80. Qusdir Hussain Khan, op.clt., p
Page 73 and 74: Chapter - V EUROPEANS ON THE COROMA
Page 75 and 76: to be friendly with Portuguese. Rul
Page 77 and 78: the Muslims had established firmly
Page 79 and 80: assistance of the Dutch. In return
Page 81 and 82: In 1537 the three captains of the Z
Page 83 and 84: V. I1 . THE DUTCH The Hollanders -
Page 85 and 86: An impressive fort was built at Nag
Page 87 and 88: Ekojl the Maratha general was insta
Page 89 and 90: However the Dutch web caught hold o
Page 91 and 92: ejected a similar offer made to Col
Page 93 and 94: The Dutch took the Coromandel texti
Page 95 and 96: The Portuguese never extended such
Page 97 and 98: to the English and Pondichery to Fr
Page 99 and 100: The french settlements were a heave
Page 101 and 102: A record of Fort St. George of 28 J
Page 103 and 104: The settlement of Madras ( Fort. St
Page 105 and 106: The Myrore wars of subsequent times
Page 107 and 108: Under the English administration th
Page 109 and 110:
for local representatives. Most of
Page 111 and 112:
and confident merchants as share ho
Page 113 and 114:
Choudy alleges that the English Eas
Page 115 and 116:
C Sivarathnam, Tamils m Ceylon , (
Page 117 and 118:
S Arasaratnam. Conlpan~eb and Comme
Page 119 and 120:
130. B.Krishnamoorthy op cit ; Ch~e
Page 121 and 122:
191, ibid 192 lbld p 192. 193. S. A
Page 123 and 124:
in the m t h centuxy A.D.. the Atab
Page 125 and 126:
The religious ties and associations
Page 127 and 128:
found it extremely difficult to com
Page 129 and 130:
His ships sailed to Pulicat, PortoN
Page 131 and 132:
The English records from 1686 menti
Page 133 and 134:
MARITIME TRADE At the beginning of
Page 135 and 136:
Similarly the Cholia Muslim were we
Page 137 and 138:
Some of the Muslim traders were so
Page 139 and 140:
When the amount due to the merchant
Page 141 and 142:
S i Moharned, and lbmhim ~agudha~'.
Page 143 and 144:
The decline of opportunities in shi
Page 145 and 146:
Even in the kt decatk of the nbwtem
Page 147 and 148:
Malabar and Bengal ports. This fami
Page 149 and 150:
He had business connection in Singa
Page 151 and 152:
At Kulasekarapuram , Hassankhan Sir
Page 153 and 154:
and there were no Marakkayar trader
Page 155 and 156:
Thus it will be seen tha there was
Page 157 and 158:
Korkai of Sangam period gave way to
Page 159 and 160:
The Dutch took over the pearl fishe
Page 161 and 162:
was fished in the coastal belt of T
Page 163 and 164:
At KikWcarai a certain wnMbution of
Page 165 and 166:
A considerable population of Muslim
Page 167 and 168:
withstand the strong mansoon winds
Page 169 and 170:
weather, sea and its bottom topogra
Page 171 and 172:
On thei anival at Commandel the Dut
Page 173 and 174:
in defence and tradeZz5. This is an
Page 175 and 176:
and others they could not get inter
Page 177:
There was lack of creativity and in
Page 180 and 181:
References Pratandha Thjrnttu, Dr.
Page 182 and 183:
Chief of PortoNovo to the chief of
Page 184 and 185:
Somerset Playne, op.cit. p.4686; Pa
Page 186 and 187:
TNA Judicial Consultation, Vol 242
Page 188 and 189:
TNA Madurai District Record, Vo1.47
Page 190 and 191:
Sarada Raju. op. cit pp.200 - 201.
Page 192 and 193:
The Arabic word lslam cannotes subm
Page 194 and 195:
the Shariath by Ulamas and Alims le
Page 196 and 197:
equal status. Ranking as in caste s
Page 198 and 199:
Tho elaborate rituals and ceremonie
Page 200 and 201:
On arrival at the bride's residence
Page 202 and 203:
at present. In many families among
Page 204 and 205:
and hw described about each and eve
Page 206 and 207:
tho idontlty of the Muvllms and to
Page 208 and 209:
Puberty ceremony is generally celeb
Page 210 and 211:
Lunch and dinner is mostly rice Non
Page 212 and 213:
where we find references to the orn
Page 214 and 215:
The purdha system is widely in prac
Page 216 and 217:
The girls were married at a very ea
Page 218 and 219:
The Muslims attach much importance
Page 220 and 221:
and also to the poor in Mecca and ~
Page 222 and 223:
The Mira) or Mihura) night is consi
Page 224 and 225:
The worship that takes place in the
Page 226:
Such festivals were celebrated with
Page 229 and 230:
(Though this is a good study to int
Page 231 and 232:
Dargah worship is much familiar amo
Page 233 and 234:
indigenous languages can understand
Page 235 and 236:
Kinship term Marakkayar Labbai Rowt
Page 237 and 238:
Muslims have enriched the voccabula
Page 239 and 240:
Edward William Lane, Arabian Societ
Page 241 and 242:
Particular collected in Interviews
Page 243 and 244:
Chapter Vlll CONCLUSION The Period
Page 245 and 246:
The Coromandel Muslims did not atta
Page 247 and 248:
think that the Coromandel Muslim so
Page 249 and 250:
&@ cqhnwm~ch nw&m g m ~ 6 m @ mCw@
Page 251 and 252:
Imam Maulavl Mauzln Mdadun Nabi Nar
Page 253 and 254:
BIBLIOGRAPHY Intensive field studie
Page 255 and 256:
Kambaramayanarn Kandar Alankaram Ka
Page 257 and 258:
Report of Customs Committee, Madras
Page 259 and 260:
Magbul Ahamed. S.. lndo Arab Relati
Page 261 and 262:
WUkr. Col.. Historical sketches of
Page 263 and 264:
Sarlri . B.S., " P o w in South Irl
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