History enthusiasts work to preserve Muslim heritage in southern India
Efforts are underway to safeguard valuable historical documents and highlight the cultural contributions of Kerala’s Muslim community
KERALA, India (MNTV) — A passionate group of history enthusiasts in Kerala has come together to preserve, archive, and study a wealth of historical records, newspapers, magazines, and documents written in Arabic Malayalam—a script once widely used by the region’s Muslim community.
This initiative is being carried out under the CH Mohammed Koya Chair for Studies on Developing Societies at Calicut University in Kerala.
The initiative seeks to uncover local history and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Kerala’s Muslim population, as reported by The Times of India.
Many of these rare documents remain in the hands of families who lack the resources to preserve them in a scientifically sound manner.
During a local history workshop titled Crafting History and Shaping Society on Saturday, historian and writer T. Jamal Muhammed stressed the critical need to protect local history at both the village and urban levels.
He called on history buffs to preserve old documents, interview veterans of the freedom movement, and collect newspaper and magazine clippings, ensuring that the Muslim community’s contributions to the nation are documented for future generations.
Muhammed also highlighted past efforts to promote education within the community, citing the 1918 launch of the Al-Islam magazine by Vakkom Abdul Khader Maulavi.
His initiatives were instrumental in empowering women from Malabar to excel in professional entrance exams, pursue higher education, and enter civil services.
Syed Abdul Ashraf, of the Mappila Heritage Library, urged attendees to establish a comprehensive historical database of the region’s cultural practices, daily life, and reading habits.
He shared plans for the CH Mohammed Koya Chair to ensure the preservation of these manuscripts, safeguarding Kerala’s unique Muslim heritage for posterity.
These efforts are crucial in preserving the region’s rich Muslim heritage, safeguarding its cultural and historical significance, particularly amid the ongoing Hindutva-driven erasure of Muslim histories in India.
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