Marginality among Muslims in Kerala

The stratification along the lines of class, caste, gender and regional differences among Muslims in India are recognised in social science scholarship and policy discourses such as the Sachar Committee. However, the implication of such internal differences among Muslims in understanding social marginality has not been sufficiently explored with empirical accounts, especially in states like Kerala. The study looks at the social trajectory of two Muslims communities in Kerala, the Mappilas and the Marakkayars, and explores diversity and marginality among Muslims in the region. The transformation of these two Muslim communities under the larger socio-political and economic circumstances enables a better understanding of social inequalities and discrimination among Muslims in Kerala. The essay specifically examines the social conditions of Marakkayar Muslims with empirical insights and shows how they became one of most marginalised Muslim communities in the state of Kerala.