Malabar Migration

Malabar Migration^[1] 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^{[citation needed]} 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:

• Kasargod
• Kannur
• Calicut
• Wayanad
• Malappuram
• Palakkad
• Thrissur - 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. ^[2]

See also

• Thalassery Diocese
• List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis
• Syrian church in India
• Saint Thomas Christians

References

1. ^ http://www.kottayamad.org/malabar_migration.htm
2. ^ Malabar Migration. "Reference to Malabar Migration", ,

• Malabar Migration. There was a second immigration. It was into the North Malabar Region in search of virgin land to cultivate and to get relief from the poverty and financial ...

External links

• http://www.calicutdiocese.com/history.doc
• http://www.kottayamad.org/malabar_migration.htm
• http://www.iritty.com/articles.html