Malabar migration
Encyclopedia
Malabar Migrationhttp://www.kottayamad.org/malabar_migration.htm refers to the large-scale migration from Central-South Kerala
to northern regions of Kerala called Malabar in the 20th century. The migration started from early decades of 20th century and continued well into 1970s and 1980s.
Central Travancore had experienced a steep increase in population in early 20th century and pressure on arable land increased. At the same time people realised the potential in the large uncultivated lands in the northern regions called Malabar which was then part of Madras Province under British Rule. Migration initially started in trickles. Land was bought from the local rulers and plantations were set up. Against many odds, the community thrived, thereby attracting more migrants and by 1950s had reached its peak.
Malabar Migration is unique for the fact that the migrating community was mostly homogeneous. Most of the settlers were Syrian Christians (Syrian Malabar Nasrani
) from erstwhile Travancore state
. The migrants were mostly from present day Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts.
The migrations happened in the entire Malabar region (north Kerala) including the following districts of present-day Kerala:
Huge tracts of uncultivated forest and waste land were converted into farms and plantations during this period.
The Catholic Church of Kerala gave significant support to this migration by providing churches, discipline, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.
The migration has resulted in hundreds of thousands of people moving to these lands. The percentages of Christians to these districts were small before the migration. Since 1950 this settler community has formed a significant share of the demography in the hill areas of these districts.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
to northern regions of Kerala called Malabar in the 20th century. The migration started from early decades of 20th century and continued well into 1970s and 1980s.
Central Travancore had experienced a steep increase in population in early 20th century and pressure on arable land increased. At the same time people realised the potential in the large uncultivated lands in the northern regions called Malabar which was then part of Madras Province under British Rule. Migration initially started in trickles. Land was bought from the local rulers and plantations were set up. Against many odds, the community thrived, thereby attracting more migrants and by 1950s had reached its peak.
Malabar Migration is unique for the fact that the migrating community was mostly homogeneous. Most of the settlers were Syrian Christians (Syrian Malabar Nasrani
Syrian Malabar Nasrani
The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people, also known as Saint Thomas Christians, "'Nasrani Mappila'" and Nasranis, are an ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India, adhering to the various churches of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition...
) from erstwhile Travancore state
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. The migrants were mostly from present day Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts.
The migrations happened in the entire Malabar region (north Kerala) including the following districts of present-day Kerala:
- Kasargod
- KannurKannurKannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
- Calicut
- Wayanad
- MalappuramMalappuramMalappuram is a municipality in the South Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 33.61 km2. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Malappuram district. As per the 2011 census Malappuram urban agglomeration is the fourth largest UA in kerala with a total population of...
- PalakkadPalakkadPalakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
- ThrissurThrissurThis article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
- especially in the hill tracts near Vellikulangara
Huge tracts of uncultivated forest and waste land were converted into farms and plantations during this period.
The Catholic Church of Kerala gave significant support to this migration by providing churches, discipline, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.
The migration has resulted in hundreds of thousands of people moving to these lands. The percentages of Christians to these districts were small before the migration. Since 1950 this settler community has formed a significant share of the demography in the hill areas of these districts.
See also
- Thalassery Diocese
- List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis
- Syrian church in India
- Saint Thomas ChristiansSaint Thomas ChristiansThe Saint Thomas Christians are an ancient body of Christians from Kerala, India, who trace their origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. They are also known as "Nasranis" because they are followers of "Jesus of Nazareth". The term "Nasrani" is still used by St...
External links
- http://www.calicutdiocese.com/history.doc
- http://www.kottayamad.org/malabar_migration.htm
- http://www.iritty.com/articles.html