The Indian coast has an ancient relation with West Asia and the Middle East, even during the pre-Islamic period. Kerala Muslims or Malayali Muslims from north Kerala are generally referred to as Mappilas….Demography.

Kerala has a reputation of being, communally, one of the most religiously diverse states in India. According to 2011 Census of India figures, 54.73% of Kerala’s population are Hindus, 26.56% are Muslims, 18.38% are Christians, and the remaining 0.33% follow other religions or have no religion.

Hinduism is majority religion in Thrissur city with 54.20 % followers. Christianity is second most popular religion in Thrissur city with 40.02 % following it. In Thrissur city, Islam is followed by 5.50 %, Jainism by 0.01 %, Sikhism by 0.00 % and Buddhism by 0.00 %.

The vast majority of Keralites carry three racial strains in their genetic make-up; Munda, Dravidian, and Aryan. Of this, majority of today’s Keralites have a Dravidian ancestry. Nevertheless, many of them pride themselves on their Aryan descent.

The caste system in Kerala differs from that found in the rest of India. While the Indian caste system generally modelled the four-fold division of society into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, in Kerala the Nambudiri Brahmins formed the priestly class and only rarely recognised anyone else as being…

The Nambudhri Brahmins were top of the caste hierarchy and the Pulayar were at the lowest. According to most travelers, the Nairs were placed below the kings and the Brahmins in Caste hierarchy. The Ambalavasis were kept between the Brahmins and the Nairs. The lower castes were known as tintal jati, i.e. castes which pollutes at a distance.

While the Indian caste system generally modelled the four-fold division of society into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, in Kerala the Nambudiri Brahmins formed the priestly class and only rarely recognised anyone else as being other than Shudra or untouchables outside the caste system entirely.

Islam does not recognise caste and guarantees equality. Muslims in India, however, seem to have been unable to completely break free of caste. Studies have established that Muslims are divided into three hierarchical sections here. The ashraf are people with foreign lineage, who are regarded as superior.