Mappila Muslims originally settled in Malabar as a trading community, focused solely on fostering their trade without any political motives. They played a crucial role in assisting local rulers to enhance their wealth through trade activities. In turn, the rulers relied on Arabs and Muslims for their commercial prosperity. Despite differences in religious beliefs, the Mappilas and the local rulers maintained harmonious relations, respecting each other’s customs and rituals. The rulers provided protection to the Mappilas and granted them the freedom to practice their beliefs and traditions. The natives followed the rulers in keeping friendship with the Arabs and other foreigners, such that a large section of the local people converted to the Arab religion, thereby creating a hybrid community with a distinct identity.
Historical accounts from travelers and historians highlight these amicable interactions. However, a brief period of political unrest occurred in Malabar during the Mysorean Muslim invasion, when the Mysorean rulers defeated the Zamorins. Interestingly, the majority of the Mappilas sided with the Zamorins in resisting the Mysorean forces, demonstrating their loyalty to local rulers over religious affinity. In addition, a small but notable Muslim kingdom existed in Kannur under the Arakkal dynasty, where Sultan and Beevi ruled as local leaders for an extended period.
The arrival of the Portuguese and other colonial powers marked the decline of Arab trade dominance in Malabar, severely impacting the prosperity of the region. In response, the Zamorin took decisive measures to resist the Portuguese, supported by the Mappila naval forces. This naval force, led by the Marakkars—renowned as the Zamorins’ naval commanders—played a pivotal role in resisting colonial aggression. The Marakkars earned the title ‘Kunhali Marakkar’ for their leadership and contributions.
Kerala became a significant center of anti-colonial resistance, with Muslims frequently at the forefront of these struggles. Sufi leaders such as Shaikh Zainuddin and Shaikh Mamukkoya provided ideological support, asserting that resisting invaders and protecting just rulers was a religious duty for Muslims, as long as the rulers upheld the welfare of their subjects. This resistance continued for over a century, even as the Portuguese shifted their capital to Goa, north of Malabar.
In 1757, the Mysore kingdom under Hyder Ali extended its power to Malabar, capitalizing on the internal conflicts among the local chieftains. Hyder Ali unified Malabar into a single province, and he, along with his son Tipu Sultan, resisted the British while introducing significant administrative reforms. They implemented a uniform revenue system and developed a network of roads across the province.
Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan also initiated peasant-centered land reforms, curtailing the power of landlords and redistributing land to benefit the peasantry. Furthermore, Tipu Sultan sought to abolish polyandry, which was prevalent in Malabar at the time. He regarded polyandry as a social evil, arguing that it led to the birth of illegitimate children who were unaware of their paternal lineage. These reforms marked the beginning of a reformatory era in Kerala’s history.
