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as Marakkayan or the people of ~arkab.'~. We are not sure how the word Markab could corrupt as Marakkayar. The forefathers of other Muslim subdivisions alw came in boats or marakkalams or Markab. Quadir Hussain Khan says the word should be taken from the Arabic word Markab or Tamil word ~arakkalam~'. Thurston again says " there is some confusion concerning the exact application of the name Jonagan but I gather that it is applled to sea fisherman and boatmen while prosperous traders are called Marakkayars" ". The Glossary of Madras Presidency traces the word Marakkar, in Malayalam, Marakkalam, Mara-boat + Kar the plural termination showing possession79. Some ingenious Marakkayars trace the term, to Egyptian Quohira or Cairo and the Tamil word " Marai " and attribute it to their knowledge of Koran and Egyptian origin (Maraikkahiriyor). Plausible as both these derivations are, they indicate the desire of the Marakkayars to rise themselves in popular estimation. Their ancestors did not come from Cairo nor could their learning have been so well known among the Tamil as to win for them the name with such a dgnifi~ance.~~. Strange and funny derivations of the term from the shape of the cap of Muslims like Marakkal, a devise to measure grain and from their assumption that they were so rich that they measured their wealth in marakkal, is also givenB1. To some Marakkayars it is a corruption of Moraccar, or Moraccoyar, i.e. settlers from Moracco. To Logon, the term Marakkar is an abrivation of Margakaran (follower of law) and it was applied as a title to persons of christianity and Islam. Another Common and popular later derivation is from MaW Rayar ; the leader or owner of maraWcakm or boat BIamkkahm + Rayar - Marakkalarayar) like other Araiyars like Vanatharaiyar, Vallatharaiyar, Kalingathamiya~.~ Most of the writers who foUow this derivation, say that the Marakkayars (Muslims) were the lords of marakka!am. Almost all the writen on Muslims use this derivation. Nobom Karashima while citing the word Marakkalmayan found in a Tamil inscription of eleventh century, in Sumatra (now in Jakarta Museum) would argue that the word seems to relate to the term Marakka~ar used to denote the seafaring muslim merchants of Tamil Nadu and Kerala coasts in later period B3. Some other writers also have referred to this
inscription and said the term marakkalanayan is the old form of the term Marakkayar the ship owning Muslims But the term nayan or nayakan will generally mean as leader. captain or owner. So, marakkalanayan will denote a ship owner, ship captain or a ship commander. Kambaramayanam would call Guhan as the leader or owner of a thousand boats. Thirukkaranapuranam, the Islamic Tamil literature of nineteenth century mentions the curer of a ship as Mar-yan. It is our argument here that the word Mad!&nayan, Marakkalanayakan,. Marskkalarayan etc., are general terms to denote seafaring people includhg the Mu3lima and it does not show any relevance only to MaraWcsyan . the Muslims as printed out by the above scholars and the origin has to be traced elsewhere". The present day Marakkayars consider a copper plate believed to have been granted by Jayaveera Rajagum Nayani, during nineth century, A.D., as their birth certificate, since the word " Marakkalarayar " appears in that plate, as the title conferred upon Mohamed Khalji, the leader of the fugitives from Kaitrun (Cairo) who settled at Kaithrunpattanam or Kayalpattanam'. On this basis, perhaps the Marakkayars claim their descent from Egypt. The historlclty and authenticity of this copper plate is doubtful 8'. Khan Sahib Mohideen Kadarsha Marakkayar of Tuticorin Marakkayar Mahal, had cirulcated a phamplet on 7.1.1919, purportedly to be the true copy of the above copper plate. Accordiig to the copper plate, fearing the tyranny of the Arab rulers of Misru, some 228 members, men and women and slaves under the leadership of one Mohamed Khalji, sailed in a ship and reached Sembinadu ruled by Abirama Adiveera Raja Jayaveera Rajaguru Nayani. KhaljI, appealed to the ruler for a copper plate grant which was issued. Since the settlers migrated from Kaitrun, the ruler in the copper plate named the place of their settlement as Kaltmnpattanam and the settlers were given the name Marakkalarayar, since they came in a Marakkalam. The date of the copper plate is given as Keelaga, 798. The new settlers were conferred with liberal land grants, tax concessions, and right in pearl fishery in the region. According to the explanatory note for the copper plate as glven In the phampkt that the gerwology of the families of the settlers is traced to those of Prophet Mohamed and the
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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 and 58: which is considered to be a subcast
Page 59: Muslims of Tamil Nadu as Lovai. It
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
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C Sivarathnam, Tamils m Ceylon , (
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S Arasaratnam. Conlpan~eb and Comme
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130. B.Krishnamoorthy op cit ; Ch~e
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191, ibid 192 lbld p 192. 193. S. A
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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
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MARITIME TRADE At the beginning of
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Similarly the Cholia Muslim were we
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Some of the Muslim traders were so
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When the amount due to the merchant
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S i Moharned, and lbmhim ~agudha~'.
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The decline of opportunities in shi
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Even in the kt decatk of the nbwtem
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Malabar and Bengal ports. This fami
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He had business connection in Singa
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At Kulasekarapuram , Hassankhan Sir
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and there were no Marakkayar trader
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Thus it will be seen tha there was
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Korkai of Sangam period gave way to
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The Dutch took over the pearl fishe
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was fished in the coastal belt of T
Page 163 and 164:
At KikWcarai a certain wnMbution of
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A considerable population of Muslim
Page 167 and 168:
withstand the strong mansoon winds
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weather, sea and its bottom topogra
Page 171 and 172:
On thei anival at Commandel the Dut
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in defence and tradeZz5. This is an
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and others they could not get inter
Page 177:
There was lack of creativity and in
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References Pratandha Thjrnttu, Dr.
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Chief of PortoNovo to the chief of
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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
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equal status. Ranking as in caste s
Page 198 and 199:
Tho elaborate rituals and ceremonie
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On arrival at the bride's residence
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at present. In many families among
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and hw described about each and eve
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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
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The purdha system is widely in prac
Page 216 and 217:
The girls were married at a very ea
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The Muslims attach much importance
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and also to the poor in Mecca and ~
Page 222 and 223:
The Mira) or Mihura) night is consi
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The worship that takes place in the
Page 226:
Such festivals were celebrated with
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(Though this is a good study to int
Page 231 and 232:
Dargah worship is much familiar amo
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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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