Kerala, fondly known as the ‘God's Own Country’, has always been famous as the cradle of different religions since the ancient times. Islam, Christianity and Judaism have flourished side by side in this region for centuries. Kodungallur, in southern Kerala, is a living example of how a Hindu temple, a mosque and a church stand alongside each other as witnesses to the early arrival of Islam and Christianity to this land. The Jews arrived in Cochin as early as 68 ad and a small Jewish town exists even today in this region surrounding the oldest Jewish synagogue in the world.

Apart from the historical facts, Kerala is a land where all the different religious communities have coexisted in harmony over several centuries. It has therefore set an example to other regions in India. Having said that, the reader would certainly have a question in mind regarding the ‘Moplahs’ who have made history by boldly attacking the British colonial administration in Malabar. Eventually, they have acquired a scarred reputation in the historical records, books, among history students and the general public.

This book is an attempt to construct the social history of an Arab-Islamic community on the southwest coast of India. So far, students of history have only learnt about the ‘Moplah Peasant Rebellions’ in their classrooms. However, recent historical writings have made genuine attempts to correct the charred image of the ‘Moplah revolts’.