http://web.squ.edu.om/OmanIndia/doc/full/full_9.pdf
Narrating the History of Malabar’s Omani Connection with Special Reference
to the Life Histories of Cheraman Perumal and Saiyyid Fadl Moplah
Dr.M.H.Ilias
Associate Professor
India-Arab Cultural Centre
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-25
+91-9717039874
mhilias@gmail.com
Oman’s trade ties with the Malabar1 Coast traces back to even before the birth
and spread of Islam in the seventh century.2 The recent archaeological
excavations in Pattanam (Kerala) have brought forth a variety of tangible
evidences for South India’s trade links with the Arab World, including Oman,
from first century A.D.3 There were frequent Omani sailings back and forth
between the major ports of Oman and Kerala since the first century, though the
major diasporic drive came from the merchants of Oman only during the twelfth
and thirteenth centuries. Tibbetts noted that there are early Sumerian inscriptions
refer to ship-building in Oman catering for the ancient Indian Ocean trade.
Certainly Indian wood has been found in Sumerian sites. 4 Abu Zayed, the Arab
traveler mentioned:
“the Arabs of Umman (today’s Oman) take the carpenter’s tool-box
with them and go to the place where coconut trees grow in
abundance. First they cut down the tree and leave it to dry. When it
is dry’ they cut into planks. They weave ropes of the coir. With this
rope they tie the planks together and make of them a vessel. They
make its mast from the same wood. The sails are made of fiber.
When the boat is ready, they take a cargo of coconuts and sail from
Umman. They make huge profits in this trade”5.
1 Geographically, erstwhile Malabar district of Madras state under the British rule comprised
seven districts of middle and north Kerala.
2 The archeological discoveries in Oman and Baharian have revealed a rich maritime tradition
associated with Magan civilization. There are evidences to Oman’s trade connection with
northern part of India which dates back to Indus valley civilization. See Dionisius A. Agius,
Seafaring in the Arabian Gulf and Oman: The People of the Dhow, ( London, 2005)
3 P.J. Cherian, “Pattanam: South India’s Mohanjedaro” an unpublished manuscript, (
Trivandrum, 2006)
4 G.R.Tibbetts, Introduction, in The Arab Navigation in the Indian Ocean Before the Coming of
Portuguese, ( translation of Kitab al-Fawaid fi usus al-bahr walqawaid of Ahmed b. Majid al-Jajdi),
London, 1972)
5 As cited in J.W. Mc Crindle, The Commerce and Navigation of the Erythrean Sea,( Amsterdam,
19730) p. 37
Narrating the History of Malabar’s Omani Connection with Special Reference
to the Life Histories of Cheraman Perumal and Saiyyid Fadl Moplah
Dr.M.H.Ilias
Associate Professor
India-Arab Cultural Centre
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-25
+91-9717039874
mhilias@gmail.com
Oman’s trade ties with the Malabar1 Coast traces back to even before the birth
and spread of Islam in the seventh century.2 The recent archaeological
excavations in Pattanam (Kerala) have brought forth a variety of tangible
evidences for South India’s trade links with the Arab World, including Oman,
from first century A.D.3 There were frequent Omani sailings back and forth
between the major ports of Oman and Kerala since the first century, though the
major diasporic drive came from the merchants of Oman only during the twelfth
and thirteenth centuries. Tibbetts noted that there are early Sumerian inscriptions
refer to ship-building in Oman catering for the ancient Indian Ocean trade.
Certainly Indian wood has been found in Sumerian sites. 4 Abu Zayed, the Arab
traveler mentioned:
“the Arabs of Umman (today’s Oman) take the carpenter’s tool-box
with them and go to the place where coconut trees grow in
abundance. First they cut down the tree and leave it to dry. When it
is dry’ they cut into planks. They weave ropes of the coir. With this
rope they tie the planks together and make of them a vessel. They
make its mast from the same wood. The sails are made of fiber.
When the boat is ready, they take a cargo of coconuts and sail from
Umman. They make huge profits in this trade”5.
1 Geographically, erstwhile Malabar district of Madras state under the British rule comprised
seven districts of middle and north Kerala.
2 The archeological discoveries in Oman and Baharian have revealed a rich maritime tradition
associated with Magan civilization. There are evidences to Oman’s trade connection with
northern part of India which dates back to Indus valley civilization. See Dionisius A. Agius,
Seafaring in the Arabian Gulf and Oman: The People of the Dhow, ( London, 2005)
3 P.J. Cherian, “Pattanam: South India’s Mohanjedaro” an unpublished manuscript, (
Trivandrum, 2006)
4 G.R.Tibbetts, Introduction, in The Arab Navigation in the Indian Ocean Before the Coming of
Portuguese, ( translation of Kitab al-Fawaid fi usus al-bahr walqawaid of Ahmed b. Majid al-Jajdi),
London, 1972)
5 As cited in J.W. Mc Crindle, The Commerce and Navigation of the Erythrean Sea,( Amsterdam,
19730) p. 37
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