Kerala, the land of green magic, is a narrow, fertile strip on the south-west coast of India. Sandwiched between the Lakshadweep, Arabian sea and the Western Ghats. The landscape is dominated by rice fields, mango and cashew nut trees and, above all, coconut palms. The Western Ghats, with their dense tropical forests, misty peaks, extensive ridges and ravines, have sheltered Kerala from main land invaders and encouraged maritime contact with the outside world.

Keralites have always been a maritime people. Kerala perhaps had the strongest navy in India. Early overseas trade started with the export of ivory, peacocks, monkeys, teakwood, sandalwood etc. to the Middle East from the time of King Solomon. Later on, foreign trade continued with Rome till the fall of the Roman Empire. During this period Kodungallur was the commercial and political capital of Kerala. With the fall of the Cholas in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the navy became weak. Yet, Kunhali Marikkar was a terror to the Portuguese in the 1500s. The Portuguese and thereafter the Dutch and then the British came here to rule the seas.

Kerala is a melting pot where several ethnic and religious groups mingle. A good illustration of the religious tolerance or secularism is found in the heart of Kerala’s capital, 'Thiruvananthapuram', where a Hindu temple, a mosque and a cathedral stand side by side. The ancient rulers of Kerala never practised religious discrimination. Patronage was distributed not only to the Hindus, but also to the Christians, the Jews and the Muslims. It has been an open field for the missionaries of all religions. St. Thomas who landed at Kodungallur was warmly welcomed. He converted several people including Brahmins into Christianity. ‘Chronique de Seert’ has references to the visit of David Dudi, the Bishop of Assyria between 295 and 300 AD, Thomas the Manichan in 277 AD and Thomas of Cana in the 8th century.

Three separate groups of Jews landed at Kodungallur in 68, 370 and 490 AD. By the edict of 999-1000, Bhaskara Ravi Varman of Kodungallur conferred upon the head of the Jews, 'Joseph Rabban' - the Title and Coat of Arms of a Naduvazhi, with rights to land and collect taxes etc. By the Tharisappally Edict of 849 AD, the Venad Aayyanadigal granted lands to a Christian Church. The Jews first came in King Solaman's ship as traders and later as refugees in AD 69 fleeing Jerusalem because of the persecution. Even when the atrocities in Jerusalem were over, many of them were reluctant to return and remained in Kerala. Some of them have recently migrated to Israel after the realization of their ‘Promised Land’. The first Jewish Synagogue in India is in Mala though the most renowned one is at Mattancherry. In 644 AD, Malik bin Deenar arrived in Kerala to build mosques and spread Islam. He too was accorded a warm welcome.

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