After the reorganisation of States of India in 1956, Kerala had a succession of Governments lead by the Communist Party. The elder statesman and communist leader, E.M.S.Namboodiribad, fondly referred to by the people as EMS, headed the provincial Government. The communists introduced agrarian reforms and changes in Education and Healthcare systems. These measures brought about the most equitable land distribution in India, almost total literacy and a high profile for women in the society. The women of Kerala enjoy greater freedom than women of rest of India. In some communities of the state, mainly amongst the Nairs, matrilineal inheritance is practised and property devolves around women of the family.
Hindus form the dominant religious sect in the state. Next in prominence are the Syrian Christians, the Muslims and the Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholics are converts of later period, mostly the 16th century, after the arrival of the Europeans commenced. But the Syrian Christians are said to have been converted to Christianity as early as in the 1st Century AD by the Apostle St.Thomas and his followers.
The Arab traders who came to Kerala in the 7th century for trading with Malabar are the earliest arrival of Muslims into Kerala. In 851 AD, Arab businessman, Sulaiman introduced Islam to Kerala. It is believed that a King of the second Chera dynasty (The Kulasekharas), Cheraman Perumal, (sometimes identified with Sithanu Ravi Verman or Rajasekhara Varman) went to Saudi Arabia, embraced Islam, accepted the name Tajuddin and married the sister of Malik-Ibn-Dinar. This Malik-Ibn – Dinar built the first mosque in Kerala in Kodungallur There are several versions of Cheraman Perumal story. But it can be reasonably concluded that Islam took roots in Kerala in the 8th century AD.
It is believed that Malik-Ibn-Dinar built several other mosques, mainly in coastal towns, influenced by the Arab traders who landed in these towns. Some of the notable mosques are the mosques at Chaliyam near Beypore, Kollam, Madayi near Kannur and Ezhimalai near Kasargode. The Kerala muslims are also known as Moplahs.
The were a patrilineal clan. The Namboodhiris, the Nairs, Izhavas, Syrian Christians, Moplahs, and the Roman Catholics form an integral part of Kerala’s social fabric.
