Monsoon Islam: Author Sebastian R Prange traces the history of Malabar’s Muslim traders
The author of Monsoon Islam, a book that traces the history of ancient Muslim traders who arrived in northern Kerala, tells Anand Raj OK why he thinks the Malabar coast must have been a thriving, bustling and cosmopolitan region that brought together merchants from almost across the world, and how their fascinating legacy continues to endure to this day
"I also witnessed several Hindu festivals during my time there and noticed that Hindus and Muslims participated in processions of both communities. When I teach students the history of India, I discuss how different religions, although they are mutually exclusive, coexisted in harmony; and during my time there I found that in many cases people continue to have a very fluid and open understanding of faiths. Those experiences left a very deep impression on me, and on my book."
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