Indian Christianity

HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN
Tippu Sultan took an oath to convert the Malankara Syrian Christians to Islam. In AD1784 he attacked
Cochin and surrounding areas, destroyed ancient churches and temples, and took 4 lakhs Christians and
one lakh Hindus who were either forcibly converted to Islam or killed. Those converted to Islam retained
their names and culture .The title "Mappila"used by the Muslims in Malabar belongs to the Christians.
Names among them, Ummer (Oommen) ,Choyi (Kochoyi), etc are of Syrian Christian origin. During the
attack by Tippu the Kozhikode Zmuthiri (Zamorin), Manorama Thampuratti accompanied by many Syrian
Christians came for shelter under Travencore State ruled by Karthikathirunal. Such Christians were
settled in places like Ennakadu, Cheppadu, Kannankode, Mavelikara, etc where there were already
Christians. During the time of Ramayan Delava a census of such Christians were taken. Inorder to
identify them their houses were named after the tree closest to their houses. Thus names like Plamood,
Mammootil, Pulimootil, Alumootil etc were given which exist till today. The earlier Christians in those
places had "Thalackal", "Oor", "kode"etc added to their house name; examples are Poovathoor,
Thalakode, Kizhakethalackal etc. They were Christians settled down there from St.Thomas time."Jha
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