North Malabar
Geographical and historical area
Clockwise from top: Mappila Bay harbour,Muzhappilangad Beach,Ezhimala,Indian Naval Academy,St. Angelo Fort,Kannur International Airport,Thalassery cuisine, Caltex Junction (South Bazar)
Interactive map of North Malabar
Coordinates:11°45′N75°30′E / 11.750°N 75.500°E /11.750; 75.500
Country	India
State	Kerala Puducherry
Government
• Body	Northern Range, Kerala Mahé Sub-Division, Puducherry
Area
• Total	4,200 km2 (1,600 sq mi)
Population  (2001)(approx.)[1]
• Total	4,800,000
• Density	819/km2 (2,120/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	670***, 671*** and 673***
ISO 3166 code	IN-KL
Vehicle registration	KL-12, KL-13, KL-14, KL-18, KL-56, KL-58, KL-59, KL-60, KL-72, KL-77, KL-78, KL-79, KL-86 & PY-03
Literacy	94.52%%
Vidhan Sabha constituency	24
Civic agency	Northern Range, Kerala Mahé Sub-Division, Puducherry

North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwestIndia covering the state ofKerala's present dayKasaragod andKannur districts,Mananthavady taluk of theWayanad district, the taluks ofVatakara andKoyilandy in theKozhikode district, and the entireMahe district of thePuducherry UT. TheKorapuzha River or Elathur River in north Kozhikode serves as the border separating North andSouth Malabar.Manjeswaram marks the northern border between North Malabar andDakshina Kannada.

The North Malabar region is bounded byDakshina Kannada (Mangalore) to north, the hilly regions ofKodagu andMysore Plateau to east,South Malabar (Korapuzha) to south, andArabian Sea to west.^[2] The greater part of North Malabar (except Mahé) remained as one of the two administrative divisions of theMalabar District (an administrative district ofBritish India under theMadras Presidency) until 1947 and later became part of India'sMadras State until 1956. Mahé remained under French jurisdiction until 13 June 1954. On 1 November 1956, the state of Kerala was formed by theStates Reorganisation Act, which merged theMalabar District withTravancore-Cochin apart from the four southern taluks, which were merged withTamil Nadu, and theKasaragod taluk ofSouth Kanara District. DuringBritish rule, North Malabar's chief importance laid in producingThalassery pepper andcoconuts.^[3]

North Malabar begins atKorapuzha in the south and ends atManjeshwaram in the north of Kerala and traditionally comprises the erstwhile princely principalities and chiefdoms ofKolathu Nadu,Kingdom of Kottayam,Kadathanadu and southern part ofTulu Nadu.Wayanad, which forms a continuation ofMysore Plateau, was the onlyplateau in North Malabar as well as Kerala.Indian Naval Academy atEzhimala is Asia's largest, and the world's third-largest, naval academy.^[4][5][6]Muzhappilangad beach is the longest drive-in beach in Asia and is featured among the top 6 best beaches for driving in the world.^[7][8] North Malabar is home to several forts which includeArikady Fort,Bekal Fort,Chandragiri Fort,Hosdurg Fort,St. Angelo Fort, andTellicherry Fort.Bekal Fort is the largest fort in Kerala.

Until the arrival ofBritish, the term Malabar was used in foreign trade circles as a general name forKerala.^[9] Earlier, the termMalabar had also been used to denoteTulu Nadu andKanyakumari which lie contiguous to Kerala in the southwestern coast of India, in addition to the modern state of Kerala.^[10][11] The people of Malabar were known asMalabars. Still the termMalabar is often used to denote the entire southwestern coast of India. From the time ofCosmas Indicopleustes (6th century CE) itself, theArab sailors used to call Kerala asMale. The first element of the name, however, is attested already in theTopography written byCosmas Indicopleustes. This mentions a pepper emporium calledMale, which clearly gave its name to Malabar ('the country of Male'). The nameMale is thought to come from theDravidian wordMala ('hill').^[12][13]Al-Biruni (AD 973 - 1048) must have been the first writer to call this stateMalabar.^[9] Authors such asIbn Khordadbeh andAl-Baladhuri mention Malabar ports in their works.^[14] The Arab writers had called this placeMalibar,Manibar,Mulibar, andMunibar.Malabar is reminiscent of the wordMalanad which meansthe land of hills. According toWilliam Logan, the wordMalabar comes from a combination of theDravidian wordMala (hill) and thePersian/Arabic wordBarr (country/continent).^[15]

The ancient port ofNaura, which is mentioned in thePeriplus of the Erythraean Sea as a port somewhere north ofMuziris is identified with Kannur.^[16]

Pliny the Elder (1st century CE) states that the port ofTyndis was located at the northwestern border ofKeprobotos (Chera dynasty).^[17] The North Malabar region, which lies north of the port atTyndis, was ruled by the kingdom ofEzhimala duringSangam period.^[18] According to thePeriplus of the Erythraean Sea, a region known asLimyrike began atNaura andTyndis. However thePtolemy mentions onlyTyndis as theLimyrike's starting point. The region probably ended atKanyakumari; it thus roughly corresponds to the present-dayMalabar Coast. The value of Rome's annual trade with the region was estimated at around 50,000,000sesterces.^[19]Pliny the Elder mentioned thatLimyrike was prone by pirates.^[20] TheCosmas Indicopleustes mentioned that theLimyrike was a source of peppers.^[21][22]

The Ezhimala dynasty had jurisdiction over twoNadus - The coastalPoozhinadu and the hilly easternKarkanadu. According to the works ofSangam literature,Poozhinadu consisted much of the coastal belt betweenMangalore andKozhikode.^[23]Karkanadu consisted ofWayanad-Gudalur hilly region with parts ofKodagu (Coorg).^[24] It is said that Nannan, the most renowned ruler of Ezhimala dynasty, took refuge at Wayanad hills in the 5th century CE when he was lost toCheras, just before his execution in a battle, according to theSangam works.^[24] Ezhimala kingdom was succeeded byMushika dynasty in the early medieval period, most possibly due to the migration ofTuluva Brahmins fromTulu Nadu. The Kolathunadu (Kannur) Kingdom at the peak of its power, reportedly extended fromNetravati River (Mangalore) in the north toKorapuzha (Kozhikode) in the south withArabian Sea on the west andKodagu hills on the eastern boundary, also including the isolated islands ofLakshadweep in theArabian Sea.^[25]

North Malabar was a hub ofIndian Ocean trade during the era. According toKerala Muslim tradition, the kingdom of Ezhimala was home to severaloldest mosques in theIndian subcontinent. According to theLegend of Cheraman Perumals, the first Indian mosque was built in 624 AD at Kodungallur with the mandate of the last the ruler (the Cheraman Perumal) ofChera dynasty, who left fromDharmadom toMecca and converted toIslam during the lifetime ofMuhammad (c. 570–632).^{[26][27][28][29]} According toQissat Shakarwati Farmad, theMasjids at Kodungallur,Kollam,Madayi,Barkur,Mangalore,Kasaragod,Kannur,Dharmadam,Panthalayani, andChaliyam, were built during the era ofMalik Dinar, and they are among the oldestMasjids in theIndian subcontinent.^[30] It is believed thatMalik Dinar died atThalangara inKasaragod town.^[31] Most of them lies in the erstwhile region of Ezhimala kingdom. The Koyilandy Jumu'ah Mosque contains anOld Malayalam inscription written in a mixture ofVatteluttu andGrantha scripts which dates back to the 10th century CE.^[32] It is a rare surviving document recording patronage by aHindu king (Bhaskara Ravi) to theMuslims of Kerala.^[32]

Between the 9th and 12th centuries, a dynasty called "Mushaka" controlled the Chirakkal areas of northern Malabar (the Wynad-Tellichery area was part of the Second Chera Kingdom). The Mushakas were probably the descendants of the ancient royal family of Nannan of Ezhi mala and were perhaps a vassal of the Cheras. The Kolla-desam (or the Mushika-rajya) came under the influence of theChera/Perumals kingdom during eleventh century AD.^[33] TheChola references to several kings in medieval Kerala confirms that the power of theChera/Perumal was restricted to the country around capitalKodungallur. The Perumal kingship remained nominal compared with the power that local rulers (such as that of the Mushika in the north and Venatu in the south) exercised politically and militarily.^[34] Medieval Kolla-desam stretched on the banks of Kavvai, Koppam and Valappattanam rivers. AnOld Malayalam inscription (Ramanthali inscriptions), dated to 1075 CE, mentioning king Kunda Alupa, the ruler ofAlupa dynasty ofMangalore, can be found atEzhimala (the former headquarters ofMushika dynasty) nearCannanore, Kerala.^[35] TheArabic inscription on a copper slab within theMadayi Mosque inKannur records its foundation year as 1124 CE.^[36] In his book on travels (Il Milione),Marco Polo recounts his visit to the area in the mid 1290s. Other visitors includedFaxian, the Buddhist pilgrim andIbn Batuta, writer and historian ofTangiers. TheMushika-vamsha Mahakavya, written byAthula in the 11th century, throws light on the recorded past of theMushika royal family up until that point.^[25]

• Validhara Vikkirama Rama (c. 929 AD) - mentioned in theEzhimala-Narayankannur inscription.^[37]
• Kantan Karivarmanalias Iramakuta Muvar (c. 1020 AD)^[37] - mentioned in an Eramam inscription ofChera/Perumal Bhaskara Ravi Manukuladitya (962–1021 AD).^[37]
• Mushikesvara Chemani/Jayamani (c. 1020 AD) - Tiruvadur inscription.^[38]
• Ramakuta Muvar (as a donor to theTiruvalla temple inTiruvalla Copper Plates/Huzur Treasury Plates).^[39]
• Utaiya-varmaalias Ramakuta Muvar (early 12th century AD) - mentioned in the Kannapuram inscription.^[35]

Kolathunadu (Kingdom ofKannur) was one of the 4 most powerfulkingdoms on theMalabar Coast during the arrival ofPortuguese Armadas toIndia, the others beingZamorin,Kingdom of Cochin andQuilon. Kolattunādu had its capital atEzhimala and was ruled byKolattiri royal family and roughly comprised the North Malabar region ofKerala state inIndia. Traditionally, Kolattunādu is described as the land lying betweenPerumba river in the north and Putupattanam river in the south.^[50] The ruling house of Kolathunādu, also known as theKolathiris, were descendants of theMushaka royal family, (which was an ancient dynasty of kerala)and rose to become one of the major political powers in the Kerala region, after the disappearance of theCheras of Mahodayapuram and thePandyan dynasty in the 12th century AD.^[51][52] The Kolathiris trace their ancestry back to the ancientMushika kingdom (Ezhimala kingdom, Eli-nadu) of theTamil Sangam Age. The Indian anthropologistAyinapalli Aiyappan states that a powerful and warlike clan of theBunt community ofTulu Nadu was calledKola Bari and the Kolathiri Raja of Kolathunadu was a descendant of this clan.^[53]

Until the 16th century CE, Kasargod town was known by the nameKanhirakode (may be by the meaning, 'The land ofKanhira Trees') inMalayalam.^[54] TheKumbla dynasty, who swayed over the land of southernTulu Nadu wedged betweenChandragiri River andNetravati River (including present-day Taluks ofManjeshwar andKasaragod) fromMaipady Palace atKumbla, had also been vassals to theKolathunadu, before theCarnatic conquests ofVijayanagara Empire.^[55] The Kumbla dynasty had a mixed lineage ofMalayaliNairs andTuluva Brahmins.^[56] They also claimed their origin fromCheraman Perumals of Kerala.^[56]Francis Buchanan-Hamilton states that the customs of Kumbla dynasty were similar to those of the contemporaryMalayali kings, though Kumbla was considered as the southernmost region ofTulu Nadu.^[56]

TheZamorin ofCalicut, who was actually the ruler ofSouth Malabar and became the most powerful ruler onMalabar Coast, conquered many regions of North Malabar includingKoyilandy (Panthalayini Kollam). By the 15th century CE,Kolathiri Rajas came under the influence of Zamorin just like the other kingdoms of Kerala. TheKolathiri Dominion emerged into independent 10 principalities i.e.,Kadathanadu (Vadakara),Randathara or Poyanad (Dharmadom),Kottayam (Thalassery),Nileshwaram, Iruvazhinadu (Panoor),Kurumbranad etc., under separate royal chieftains due to the outcome of internal dissensions.^[57] TheNileshwaram dynasty on the northernmost part ofKolathiri dominion, were relatives to bothKolathunadu as well asZamorin ofCalicut, in the early medieval period.^[58] The Portuguese arrived atKappadKozhikode in 1498 during theAge of Discovery, thus opening a direct sea route fromEurope toSouth Asia.^[59] TheSt. Angelo Fort at Kannur was built in 1505 by DomFrancisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India. The Dutch captured the fort from the Portuguese in 1663. They modernized the fort and built the bastions Hollandia, Zeelandia, and Frieslandia that are the major features of the present structure. The original Portuguese fort was pulled down later. A painting of this fort and the fishing ferry behind it can be seen in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. The Dutch sold the fort to king Ali Raja of Arakkal in 1772.

During the 17th century, Kannur was the capital city of the onlyMuslim Sultanate in Kerala, known asArakkal, who also ruled theLaccadive Islands in addition to Kannur.^[60] The island ofDharmadom near Kannur, along withThalassery, was ceded to theEast India Company as early as 1734, which were claimed by all of theKolattu Rajas,Kottayam Rajas, and Arakkal Bibi in the late medieval period, where the British initiated a factory and English settlement following thecession.^[61][57]

In 1761, the British capturedMahé, and the settlement was handed over to the ruler ofKadathanadu.^[62] The British restoredMahé to the French as a part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris.^[62] In 1779, the Anglo-French war broke out, resulting in the French loss ofMahé.^[62] In 1783, the British agreed to restore to the French their settlements in India, andMahé was handed over to the French in 1785.^[62]

The northern parts ofKerala was unified underTipu Sultan during the last decades of eighteenth century CE. When he was defeated by theEast India Company throughThird Anglo-Mysore War, theTreaty of Seringapatam was agreed and the regions included in Tipu's kingdom was annexed with the East India Company. After the Anglo-Mysore wars, the parts ofMalabar Coast, those became British colonies, were organized into a district ofBritish India. They divided it into North Malabar andSouth Malabar on 30 March 1793 for administrative convenience. Though the general administrative headquarters of Malabar was atCalicut in South Malabar, the special headquarters of South Malabar was decided to be atCherpulassery, which was then replaced toOttapalam. South Malabar was the centre of theMalabar Rebellion in 1921. On 1 November 1956, this region was annexed with the Indian state ofKerala.^[9]

The East India Companycaptured the fort Kannur in 1790 and used it as one of their major military stations on theMalabar Coast. Initially the Malabar was placed underBombay Presidency. Later in 1799-1800 year, Malabar along withSouth Canara was transferred toMadras Presidency. During the period ofBritish colonial rule, Kannur was part of theMadras province in theMalabar District. The municipalities ofKannur andThalassery were formed on 1 November 1866 according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850)^{[64][65][66][67]} of theBritish Indian Empire, along with the municipalities ofKozhikode,Palakkad, andFort Kochi, making them the first modern municipalities in the modern state of Kerala.

Initially the British had to suffer local resistance against their rule under the leadership ofKerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, who had popular support inThalassery-Wayanad region.^[56] The guerrilla war launched byPazhassi Raja, the ruler of Kottayam province, against the East India Company had a huge impact on the history of Kannur. Changes in the socio-economic and political sectors in Kerala during the initial decades of the 20th century created conditions congenial for the growth of the Communist Party. Extension of English education initiated by Christian missionaries in 1906 and later carried forward by government, rebellion for wearing a cloth to cover upper parts of body, installing an idol at Aruvippuram in 1888, Malayali Memorial in 1891, establishment of SNDP Yogam in 1903, activities, struggles etc. became factors helpful to accelerate changes in Kerala society during a short time. These movements eventually coalesced into theIndian independence movement.

The socio-cultural background and geography of this area has some distinctions compared to the rest of Kerala.^{[68][69][70][71][72][73][74]} The population consists of nativeHindus, nativeMappila-Muslims, nativeJains and migrant-Christian communities and is characterized by distinct socio-cultural customs and behavior. The people of North Malabar have striven to preserve their distinct and unique identity and heritage since ancient times, through colonial times into modern political India. From the seventeenth century onward, until the early twentieth century, there were cultural taboos among certain communities from North Malabar, which forbade their women marrying people of the same respective communities, from theSouth Malabar.^[75][76][57] Even in modern times it is not uncommon to see "alliances from North Malabar region preferred" in newspaper matrimonial announcements placed by native North Malabar families, irrespective of their ethno-religious background. Traditionally North Malabar has remained the source of an erstwhile aristocracy for many of the southern territories of Kerala through displacement and adoptions including theTravancore royal family. Northern Malabar identity and pride is often possessively guarded by its natives of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam is a 27-day yearly pilgrimage commemorating the mythology of Daksha Yaga, which attracts thousands ofHindu pilgrims from the Malabar region.

In the pre-democratic era,Marumakkathayam-matriliniality was widely prevalent among the natives of North Malabar and included both the Muslim and Nambudiri communities ofPayyanur, in addition to other traditional matrilineal communities such as theNair andThiyyas.Marumakkathayam was also practiced by theNair,Nambudiri, andMappila communities in thePonnani region ofSouth Malabar.The practice of matrilineality was distinctly different and was predominantly virilocal with married couples residing with or near the husband's parents. Unlike other parts of erstwhile matrilineal-Kerala, polyandry was a strict taboo in North Malabar and exceptional customs such asPutravakaasham (purse/estate grants to children of male members) were occasionally allowed.^[77][78]

Landlords in Malabar during colonial and pre-colonial times were the largest landlords of Kerala and during this time political authority remained decentralized in contrast to that of the southern principalities. The royal position ofKolathiri, although immensely respected, was politically titular. In North Malabar, the Kolathiri Kings had the ritualistic status ofPerumaal such that their official designates orsthanis retained their jurisdiction all over Kerala except for the Rajarajashwara Temple atTaliparamba.

The major festival observed by Hindus in this region isVishu rather thanOnam, which remains the major celebration for Hindus in the remainder of Kerala. In North Malabar, Vishu is celebrated as New Year. Because, theKollavarsham monthMedam - which is parallel to first Tamil monthChithirai - is the first month of the year for natives of North Malabar. The Vishu festival is spread over two days and comprises theCheriya or small Vishu and theValiya, or main Vishu. Unlike in the rest of Kerala it is not uncommon to see Hindu natives of this region cook and eat non-vegetarian food during their festivals including Vishu and Onam and sometimes even in marriage households.^{[citation needed]}

People from all religions participate in major festivals at temples, mosques and churches. Some examples include:Nadapuram Mosque, Mahe Church, Moonnu Pettumma PalliPappinisseri andTheyyam ritual art.

UnlikeTravancore, but like the rest ofMalabar andCochin, natives of North Malabar mixcoconut paste withsambar, the most common dish ofSouth India.^[79][80]

North Malabar cuisine is noted for its variety of dishes including chutneys, pancakes, steamed cakes and various dishes such askalathappam,kinnathappam,uruttu chammanthi,poduthol,pathiri,chatti pathiri andmoodakadamban. Bakery-cuisine is well developed in the area and has led to large numbers of natives operating popular bakeries inChennai,Bangalore,Mumbai,Coimbatore,Mysore,Pune andSouthern Kerala.

People from this area are characterized by a stronger sense of socio-political aspirations often leading to large outbreaks of political violence.^{[citation needed]}

Textiles,beedi,hand-weaving,plywood andcoir represent important industries whilecashew,cinnamon (North Malabar is home to Asia's largest cinnamon farm) andpepper are important cash crops.

North Malabar represents one of the earliest and largest pockets of exposure to other cultures in Kerala throughChalukyas,Hoysalas,Tuluvas,Rashtrakutas,Kodavas,Tulus,Arabs,Persians,Portuguese,Dutch,French,British, and through early employment and migrations in government and military services from the time of its incorporation into theMadras Presidency. Nevertheless, its people are conservatively possessive of its identity, preferring a "geographical endogamy" culture.

The version of theMalayalam calendar orKollavarsham used in central and south Kerala begins on August 25, 825 AD. The year commences withSimha-raasi (Leo) and not inMesha-raasi (Aries) as in other Indian calendars. However, in North Malabar and Kolathunadu the start of theKollam era is reckoned from the month ofKanya-rasi (Virgo), which begins on 25 September. This variation has two accounts associated with it.^[81]

Kerolopathi, a traditional text dealing with the origins of Malabar, attributes the introduction of the Kollam era toShankaracharya. Translation of the phraseAa chaa rya vaa ga bhed ya (meaning Shankaracharya's word/law is unalterable) into numbers in theKatapayadi notation produces 0 6 1 4 3 4 1 and these written backwards give the age of theKali Yuga in the first year of the Kollam era.Kali, day 1,434,160, would work out to be September 25, 825 AD, which corresponds to the beginning of the Kollam era in North Malabar, i.e. the first day of the month ofKanya-raasi (Virgo) .

There are several dialects of theMalayalam language prevalent in North Malabar. Loan words, excluding the significant number of words from Sanskrit, originated mostly due to centuries long interactions between the native population of North Malabar and the horse and spice traders of the world. These included trading contacts withArabia,Persia,Israel,China and European colonial powers for several centuries. Examples of these dialects include Kasaragod Malayalam andMappila Malayalam. However, the majority of the young-adult Keralites from other provinces who are ignorant of the rich melting-pot culture of Malabar dialects are uncomfortable with these forms of Malayalam.^{[citation needed]}

• 
  Malik Deenar Mosque
• 
  The intricate work on aNorth Malabar hookah
• 
  Pazhassi Kudeeram inMananthavadi
• 
  Madhur Temple

In 1617, theKolathiri Raja Udayavarman, wished to attain the higher status ofkshatriya by undergoing theHiranyagarbham ritual in honour ofHiranyagarbha, the creator of the universe. Since theNambudiri Brahmins were not prepared for the ceremony, Udayavarman brought 237 families ofShivalli Brahmins fromGokarna in Coastal Karnataka and settled them in the five counties ofCheruthazham,Kunniriyam,Arathil,Kulappuram andVararuchimangalam in North Malabar.^[82] The Sree Raghavapuram temple (Hanuman Kavu) at Pilathara was assigned to the 237 families for worship, and it became their village temple. The 93 Edukunchi families displaced as a result received the hereditary trusteeship of the Sreekrishnapuram temple in Cheruthazham, 62 Gunavantham families that of Arathil Sreebhadrapuram temple and the 82 Vilakkoor families that of Udayapurath Haripuram temple. These 237 families adopted the customs of local Nambudiri Brahmins and came to be referred to asEmbranthiris.

TheMalabar Migration refers to the large-scale migration ofSyrian Christians (Nasranis) from theTravancore region to the Malabar area of northern Kerala in the 20th century. The migration started in the decades of the 20th century and continued well into the 1970s and 1980s. This migration had a significant demographic and social impact as the Syrian Christian population of Malabar increased 15-fold from 31,191 in 1931 to 442,510 in 1971.

Central Travancore had experienced a steep increase in population in the early 20th century while pressure on arable land increased. At the same time, people recognised the potential of the large uncultivated lands in the northern regions called Malabar, which was then part of the Madras Presidency under British Rule. Migration initially started in trickles with land bought from the local rulers. Huge tracts of uncultivated forest and waste land were later converted into farms and plantations. Against the odds, the community thrived, which attracted more migrants. This migration reached its peak in the 1950s.^{[citation needed]}

These migrants came mostly from present dayKottayam,Idukki,Muvattupuzha andKothamangalam with migrations happening across the entire Malabar region (north Kerala) including into the following districts of present-day Kerala (some key migration centres are also mentioned):

• Kasaragod -Malom,Kallar,Chittarikkal,Vellarikundu,Panathady,Panathur
• Kannur -Alakkode,Chemperi,Cherupuzha,Kudianmala,Iritty,Peravoor,Payyavoor,Chempanthotty
• Calicut -Thiruvambady,Kuttiady
• Malapuram -Nilambur,Edakkara,Chungathara
• Wayanad -Pulpally

The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church gave significant support to the migration by providing churches, discipline, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.

Overall, hundreds of thousands of people moved to North Kerala. The percentage of Christian residents in these districts was small before the migration but since 1950 this settler community has formed a significant part of the population in the hill areas of these districts.

Historically, the North Malabar landlords were the largest land-holders in Kerala, but the introduction of the Kerala Land Reforms Bill in 1957 resulted in their panic selling of farm and forest land. This was followed by immigration of Christians fromKnanaya into the North Malabar Region in search of virgin land to cultivate and to seek relief from the poverty and financial strain caused by theSecond World War. Under the direction of Prof. V.J. Joseph Kandoth and Bishop Mar Alexander Chulaparambil,^[83][84] theDiocese of Kottayam bought 1,800 acres (7.3 km²) of land in the Kasargod area in 1942. The new venture was announced in all the parishes of southern Kerala. Applications were invited and each family was allotted 11.5 acres (47,000 m²) of land 1943. The emigrants from all southern Kerala parishes reached Cochin by boat and from there travelled by train toShornur andKanhangad. A team of priests, especially of the O.S.H. Society and laymen were sent ahead to prepare the ground and to receive them on their arrival. The name of the local area was changed from Echikkol toRajapuram. In the same way, the diocese organized another settlement at Madampam nearKannur. The Diocese bought 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) of land and 100 families migrated to the new area on 3 May 1943. The settlement was called Alexnagar after Bishop Mar Alexander Chulaparambil.Madathumala inKasargod District at its eastern border with theKarnataka state was the venue of a third settlement of 45 families. The land was purchased on 26 September 1969 and theRanipuram settlement inaugurated on 2 February 1970 dedicated to theVirgin Mary. Although there were initial difficulties due to wild animals, Ranipuram gradually prospered and today there is also a Government tourist center at Ranipuram. The Diocese of Kottayam made also arrangements with the Latin Ordinaries to have pastoral ministry and liturgical celebrations according to their ownSyro-Malabar Rite. Presently, one third of the Knanaya Catholic population is in the Malabar area.

In addition, taking advantage of the selling spree of landlords of Malabar in general and more particularly the larger landlords of North Malabar, several otherTravancore Christian families immigrated into Malabar to pursue agriculture. These migrations peaked during 1960–71.

The number of large land owning private-Tharavad-owned schools in North Malabar expanded in the first half of the twentieth century partly due to the availability of government grant-in-aid for such enterprises from 1939 onwards. Furthermore, corporate expansion of land owning Tharavads and a decrease in European engineered proletysing of the depressed classes also contributed to the growth pattern. These schools often had teaching staff from educated families.^[85] In democratic Kerala however, many of these schools evolved as public and government enterprises, which led to the recruitment of teachers from the southern provinces and the subsequent immigration of teaching staff of all ethno-religious backgrounds, many of whom preferred to settle in the area permanently.

Historically significant emigration from North Malabar occurred in three phases.

From 1766 to 1792, during the era ofHyder Ali andTipu Sultan, multiple military invasions, plunder and systematic forcible religious conversions took place in both North and South Malabar.^{[86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106]} Fearing forcible conversion, a significant number of Nair Chieftains and Brahmins from Malabar chose to take refuge in the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore, as under theTreaty of Mangalore Travancore had an alliance with the EnglishEast India Company according to which "aggression against Travancore would be viewed as equivalent to declaration of war against the English". Thus at various times between 1766 and 1792, all female members and many male members of the different royal families of North and South Malabar: Chirackal,Parappanad, and Calicut, and chieftains' families:Punnathoor,Nilambur,Kavalapara andAzhvanchery Thamprakkal (titular head of allNamboothiri Brahmins), sought asylum in Travancore and temporarily settled in different parts of the kingdom. Even after the fall of Tipu Sultan's regime inSrirangapatnam, some of the Malabar nobility, wholly or partly, preferred to remain in Travancore because of fear of atrocities if they returned home. The 17 prominent aristocratic lineages of southern Kerala that claim their origin from Malabar through displacement during this period are:

• Neerazhi Kovilakam
• Gramathil Kottaram
• Paliyakkara
• Nedumparampu
• Chempra Madham
• Ananthapuram Kottaram
• Ezhimatoor Palace
• Aranmula Kottaram
• Varanathu Kovilakam
• Mavelikkara
• Ennakkadu
• Murikkoyikkal Palace
• Mariappilly
• Koratti Swaroopam
• Kaippuzha Kovilakam
• Lakshmipuram Palace
• Kottapuram.

TheKolathiris were a family descended from the Cheras and theAy/Venad/Travancore royal family, that originated in theThiruvananthapuram area, and settled in theKannur region centuries ago. They had been a constant source of heirs for theTravancore royal family (and this practice of adoption was also reciprocal) by permitting some of its matrilineal branches of members to make settlements in Thiruvananthapuram and be adopted. The first adoption took place around 1310 whereby the two princesses of the Kolathiri family were installed as Senior and JuniorRānis ofAttingal, with the titles of Āttingal Mootha Thampurān and Āttingal Elaya Thampurān respectively. Adoptions into the Travancore royal family followed in 1684, 1688, 1718, 1748 and 1788 until the 19th century. The celebratedMārthanda Varma the Great was a result of the 1688 adoption and his successorDharmarājā, who fought and defeated Tipu Sultan of Mysore, was the result of the 1718 adoption. The weakBalarama Varma who ruled after Dharmarājā in the early 19th century belonged to the 1748 line. The noted MaharanisGowri Lakshmi Bayi andGowri Parvati Bayi belonged to the 1788 line as did the MaharajahsSwāthi Thirunāl,Uthram Thirunāl,Āyilyam Thirunāl,Visākham Thirunāl andMoolam Thirunāl.

In 1956, the State of Kerala was formed along linguistic lines, merging the Travancore, Cochin and Malabar regions. The first Kerala Legislative Assembly was formed on 1 March 1957 and the following 50 years saw migration of lawyers, politicians, businessmen and government officials from North Malabar to the southern cities of Kerala especiallyCochin andTrivandrum. However many of these families still retain their links to their native area through marriage association, partial retention of natal property and often a characteristic sacerdotal North Malabar self-identity.

North Malabar has a rich history offolk-art, culture and tradition. The government of Kerala has encouraged promotion of these through theKerala Folklore Academy at Kannur. Among the notable examples are:

Theyyam, an ancient ritual performance art of the region in which a man is dressed symbolically as god. In theKadathanadan area, it is known as kaliyattam. There are around 400 types of Theyyam, which are conducted on a stage and use elaborate costumes and body-painting. Each type has a distinguishing head-dress and costume made from natural materials, such as coconut leaves and bark. Musical accompaniments are provided by thechenda,elathalam andkuzhal (horn).

Thottam Pattu is ballad sung just before performance of the Theyyam ritual.

Kalaripayattu is amartial art that originated in North Malabar and was developed between the 9th and 12th centuries.

TheVadakkan Pattukal are ballads that extol the adventures of the brave men and women of North Malabar. Set against a feudal medieval background, the stories celebrate the valour and skills of their characters. The ballads reflect the peak of Kerala folk-poetry and are associated with Kadathanadu. The movieOru Vadakkan Veeragatha capitalised on the popularity of these stories.

Thidambu Nritham (dance with the replica of the deity) is a ritual dance performed in temples. It is mainly performed byNambudiri Brahmins and occasionally by other Brahmin communities.

Poorakkali is a traditional art form performed by a group of men who dance and chant holy verses from theRamayana orBhagavata. It is performed during the nine-day Pooram festival in Bhagavathy temples.Payyannur,Trikaripur and nearby places like Vengara, Ramanthali, Karivellur, are well known for this art form.

Kolkali is an art form involving both men and women which is also seen inSouth Malabar too. It is the only folk art that is performed by both Hindus and Muslims, although there are slight differences in how the two do it. Muslims perform it as a form of entertainment during social gatherings and marriages, whereas the Hindus perform it at temple festivals. It involves rapid limb movements and simultaneous chanting of folksong, with the performers moving in pairs, hitting their batons (koles) against each other in a methodical way in tune with folksongs. It is played according to Vaithari or Thalam by the Gurukkal (Teacher).

The typical Kolkali group will contain between sixteen and twenty members. One among them will sing the folksong and it will be chorused by rest. Harmonizing with generational changes, Kolkali like all other folk-art of North Malabar, has also changed its look and style over time. The noted Kolkali groups are found in theKasaragod District.

Mappila folklore has deep roots in the region. The major Mappila arts ofMalabar region (both North and South Malabar) are :

• Oppana
• Duff Muttu
• Mappila Paattu

Erutukali is a folk art popular in hilly areas of North Malabar region, which is performed by the Mavilan community on the tenth day ofMalayalam monthThulam.^[107] The main character in Erutukali is a big bull which is made of bamboo sticks, straw, cloth and a wooden head.^[107]

Pathiri, a pancake made ofrice flour, is a common breakfast dish in North Malabar.

Kallummakkaya nirachathu orarikkadukka (mussels stuffed with rice)

Thalasserybiryani withraita

Halwas are popular inKannur andThalassery.

The Malabar cuisine depicts it culture and heritage. Malabar cuisine is a blend of traditionalKerala,Persian,Yemenese andArab food culture.^[108] This confluence of culinary cultures is best seen in the preparation of most dishes.^[108]Kallummakkaya (mussels)curry,irachi puttu (irachi meaning meat),parottas (soft flatbread),^[108]Pathiri (a type of rice pancake)^[108] andghee rice are some of the other specialties. The characteristic use of spices is the hallmark of North Malabar cuisine—black pepper,cardamom andclove are used profusely.

TheMalabar version ofbiryani, popularly known askuzhi mandi inMalayalam is another popular item, which has an influence fromYemen. Various varieties ofbiriyanis likeThalasserybiriyani, and Kannurbiriyani,^[109] are prepared in North Malabar.^[108]

The snacks includeunnakkaya (deep-fried, boiled ripebanana paste covering a mixture of cashew,raisins andsugar),^[110]pazham nirachathu (ripe banana filled withcoconut grating,molasses or sugar),^[110]muttamala made ofeggs,^[108]chatti pathiri, adessert made of flour, like a baked, layeredchapati with rich filling,arikkadukka,^[111] and more.^[108]

• Kerala Varma Pazhassi (c. 1753 - c. 1805) - popularly known as the Lion of Kerala, a prince from the royal dynasty ofKottayam which now belongs to theKannur District of Kerala State. He waged war against Mysore and the British for 27 years
• K. Kelappan - founder president of theNair Service Society who later became the principal of a school run by the society; revolutionary, social reformer and crusader for justice to the backward classes; was called Kerala Gandhi
• P. T. Usha - first Indian sprinter to reach the Olympics, winner of several gold medals in the Asian Games
• Lt GenSatish Nambiar - recipient of aVir Chakra and Force Commander ofUNPROFOR
• E. K. Nayanar (December 1918 - May 2004) - born in Kalliasseri, prominent Indian political leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist); held the post of Chief Minister of Kerala three times; the longest-serving Chief Minister of Kerala, serving a total of 4009 days
• K. Karunakaran (July 1918 - December 2010) - Indian politician fromChirakkal in the Kannur District; held the post of Chief Minister of Kerala four times, making him the person who became the Chief Minister for the most number of times, and was also the second longest-serving Chief Minister of Kerala after Nayanar
• Pinarayi Vijayan - veteran Communist leader, former State secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and current Chief Minister of Kerala
• Vijay K. Nambiar - former ambassador to China and Pakistan and formerChef de Cabinet (Chief of Staff) under UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon
• Gireesh Puthenchery - lyricist and screenwriter in the Malayalam film industry
• T. V. Chandran - director in the Malayalam film industry
• Vineeth - South Indian film actor and classical dancer
• M. N. Nambiar (1919—2008) - film actor in Tamil cinema who spent more than 50 years in the film industry
• Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar (1861–1914) - Malayali journalist, essay writer, critic and short story writer born into the chieftain family of "Vengayil", Chirakkal Taluk; a close friend of Dr.Hermann Gundert andWilliam Logan, researchers on the history, language, culture of Kerala
• Kannavath Sankaran Nambiar - Minister of Pazhassi Raja who was active in resistance to Mysorean and British invaders
• Sreenivasan - Malayalam actor and director
• Samvrutha Sunil - Malayalam film heroine
• Kavya Madhavan - Malayalam film actress
• O. M. Nambiar - Indian athletics coach
• M Kunjikannan - Kunjikannan master, journalist,Gandhian, educational and social activist.
• Kodiyeri Balakrishnan -Home Minister in theV.S. Achuthanandan ministry from 2006 to 2011, and former State secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• Kanayi Kunhiraman - sculptor
• M. Mukundan - novelist and diplomat
• K. Raghavan - Malayalam music director
• Abu Salim - film actor and Mr India Title winner in 1984 and 1992
• C. P. Krishnan Nair - businessman from the Leela Group of Hotels
• Sanusha - film actress
• Anaswara Rajan - film actress
• Maliyekkal Mariyumma - social reformer

• Malabar pepper
• Kolathiri
• South Malabar
• North Malabar Gramin Bank

• S. Muhammad Hussain Nainar (1942),Tuhfat-al-Mujahidin: An Historical Work in The Arabic Language, University of Madras (The English translation ofTuhfat Ul Mujahideen)
• William Logan (1887),Malabar Manual (Volume-I), Madras Government Press
• William Logan (1887),Malabar Manual (Volume-II), Madras Government Press
• Charles Alexander Innes (1908),Madras District Gazetteers Malabar (Volume-I), Madras Government Press
• Charles Alexander Innes (1915),Madras District Gazetteers Malabar (Volume-II), Madras Government Press
• Government of Madras (1953),1951 Census Handbook- Malabar District(PDF), Madras Government Press
• J. I. Arputhanathan (1955),South Kanara, The Nilgiris, Malabar and Coimbatore Districts (Village-wise Mother-tongue Data for Bilingual or Multilingual Taluks)(PDF), Madras Government Press
• Rajabhushanam, D. S. (1963),Statistical Atlas of the Madras State (1951)(PDF), Madras (Chennai): Director of Statistics, Government of Madras

• J. Sturrock (1894),Madras District Manuals - South Canara (Volume-I), Madras Government Press
• Harold A. Stuart (1895),Madras District Manuals - South Canara (Volume-II), Madras Government Press
• Government of Madras (1905),Madras District Gazetteers: Statistical Appendix for South Canara District, Madras Government Press
• Government of Madras (1915),Madras District Gazetteers South Canara (Volume-II), Madras Government Press
• Government of Madras (1953),1951 Census Handbook- South Canara District(PDF), Madras Government Press

• Regions of Kerala
• Malabar Coast

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