Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is a union territory of India. It is an archipelago of 36 islands divided into three island subgroups: the Laccadive Islands in the middle with the Amindivi Islands in the north separated roughly by the 11th parallel north and the atoll of Minicoy to the south separated by the Nine Degree Channel along the 9th parallel north. The islands are sandwiched between the Arabian Sea to the west and the Laccadive Sea to the east with the islands located about 220–440 km (140–270 mi) off the Malabar Coast of mainland India.

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The Muslim tribes of Lakshadweep Islands

Jha, Makhan, The Muslim tribes of Lakshadweep Islands : an anthropological appraisal of island ecology and cultural perceptions

• Almost all the mosques in the islands are constructed in typical Hindu architecture. Further, the existence of ponds and tanks near mosques on the islands, resembles those found near the Hindu temples in Kerala. Many pieces of Hindu icons have already been excavated from different islands in Lakshadweep. There is pipal tree, very sacred to the Hindus, standing almost in the centre of the Amini Island. There were traditional folksongs having verses in praise of Lord Rama and naga (snake) worship. However, these songs have been replaced by the “Mappila Pattu”, Muslim folk-songs, specially after the Islamization of the islands.
  • Jha, Makhan, The Muslim tribes of Lakshadweep Islands : an anthropological appraisal of island ecology and cultural perceptions

• There are several evidences, which need further explorations, and deep investigations, to prove the Hindu origin of the islanders. Hindu family names are found in all the islands. There are many houses having the word “illam” with their names. In Kerala, only the Nampoothiris houses were exclusively called “illam” and that’s why a few local historians suggest that the early settlers were the Nampoothiris. Whatever may be the castes of the Malabar people, who migrated from the Malabar coast, one thing is very definite that they were Hindus, which needs, of course, deep investigations.

• Mr Shamsuddin (age 55), Director of Agriculture, Lakshadweep, narrated that 30/40 years ago his mother used to sing ballads, while grinding the rice, as to how the people from West came and raped the girls of the islands, who later committed suicide by jumping in the sea.