THIS is a study undertaken to find out the extent of progress made by the Muslims of Kerala in educational empowerment. The instruction highlights the situation of Muslims in Kerala and the methodology adopted for the study.
The book begins by giving an overview of Kerala’s historical background in the context of the socio-historical background of the Kerala Muslims since the advent of Islam to the present day. The author examines the role of various factors involved and how the domination by foreign powers like the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the English had its adverse effects on the socio-economic life of the Mappilas of Malabar.
The recession of Kerala Muslims into backwardness prevented them from catching up with the rest of their countrymen and this was not mono-causal. Many factors were responsible. Historically the Portuguese were ruthless on them in their attacks which were punctuated with wars spread over a period of nearly a century, posing a serious threat to their economic and cultural interests.
The study further reveals that attempts at reform of traditional orthodox methods of teaching still meet with resistance with the result that except in a minority of institutions, the old stereotyped, highly teacher-oriented mode of Arabic language instruction and Deeni studies are carried out in most of the Dars and madrasas run by the conservative groups.
This is a very region-specific and subject-specific study.
-MG
(Other Books, 1st Floor, New Way Building, Railway Link Road, Calicut, Kerala-673002; otherbooks@post.com)
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