03-02-2005, 07:32 AM
Kunhali Marikkars: Myth & Reality
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Talking to The Hindu , Dr. Ochanthuruth claimed his research findings disproved the popular beliefs about Kunhali Marikkar.
According to Dr. Ochanthuruth, "the traditional view of Kunhalis as patriots supporting feudal lords like the Zamorin needs to be corrected.
<b>In the light of Kunhali Marikkar's own actions and Shayk Zaynuddin's statements, it is clear that they wanted an Islamic Principality in their own Malabar. (Shayk Zaynuddin was an Arab scholar who lived in Ponnani). </b>
"After 1600 when the Kunhalis were almost silenced by the Zamorin through a political operation with the help of the Portuguese, <b>the Muslim religious leaders in Malabar elevated Kunhali Marikkar as a cult figure for having attempted to unite the Muslims belonging to different ethnic groups and established their identity on the basis of an Islamic dream as visualised by Shayk Zaynuddin. </b>
<b>"This is the starting point of Muslim fundamentalism and communalism in South Malabar, later described by Ines and Evans as "fanatic zone," </b>he says in his paper presented at an international seminar on `The Portuguese and Kunhali Marikkars - myth and reality'.
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Dr. Ochanthuruth's views contradict the opinions of well-known and highly rated historians <b>Sardar K.M. Panikkar, A.V. Krishna Ayyar and O.K. Nambiar. </b>
"Available evidence suggests Marikkars were of Tamil origin and many of them were Parathava converts from Coramandel," Dr. Ochanthuruth claimed.
By R. Madhavan Nair <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->
Talking to The Hindu , Dr. Ochanthuruth claimed his research findings disproved the popular beliefs about Kunhali Marikkar.
According to Dr. Ochanthuruth, "the traditional view of Kunhalis as patriots supporting feudal lords like the Zamorin needs to be corrected.
<b>In the light of Kunhali Marikkar's own actions and Shayk Zaynuddin's statements, it is clear that they wanted an Islamic Principality in their own Malabar. (Shayk Zaynuddin was an Arab scholar who lived in Ponnani). </b>
"After 1600 when the Kunhalis were almost silenced by the Zamorin through a political operation with the help of the Portuguese, <b>the Muslim religious leaders in Malabar elevated Kunhali Marikkar as a cult figure for having attempted to unite the Muslims belonging to different ethnic groups and established their identity on the basis of an Islamic dream as visualised by Shayk Zaynuddin. </b>
<b>"This is the starting point of Muslim fundamentalism and communalism in South Malabar, later described by Ines and Evans as "fanatic zone," </b>he says in his paper presented at an international seminar on `The Portuguese and Kunhali Marikkars - myth and reality'.
.....
Dr. Ochanthuruth's views contradict the opinions of well-known and highly rated historians <b>Sardar K.M. Panikkar, A.V. Krishna Ayyar and O.K. Nambiar. </b>
"Available evidence suggests Marikkars were of Tamil origin and many of them were Parathava converts from Coramandel," Dr. Ochanthuruth claimed.
By R. Madhavan Nair <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->