Marikkar

Marikkar is a Muslim community, mostly concentrated in and around Malabar. Related subdivisions are also found in neighboring states as well as in Sri Lanka, where they are known as Marakkar and Labbay. They were traditionally boatmen.^[1]

According to tradition, Marakkars were originally marine merchants of Kochi who left for Ponnani in the Samoothiri Raja's dominion when the Portuguese came to Kochi. They offered their men ,ships and wealth in the defence of their motherland to the Samoothiri of Kozhikode-The Raja took them into his service and eventually they became the Admirals of his fleet. They served as the naval chiefs in the Zamorin's army. Kunhali Marikkar, one of the first Keralites to rebel against the British, hailed from the Marikkar community.^[2]

See also

• Marakkar

References

1. ^ http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Zcyho16xzWEC&pg=PA457
2. ^ "Kunhali Marikkars: myth and reality". The Hindu. 2005-03-01. http://www.hindu.com/lf/2005/03/01/stories/2005030100490200.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-26.