Footprints of a Sea Change : Mapping the Impact of Gulf Migration on Muslims in Kerala

Kerala, the Southern state of India, boasts of the bulk of the migrants to Gulf. The Migration to the Persian Gulf from Kerala since 1970s has brought to the state an intense period of prosperity, sense of financial security and social change. Gulf migration and subsequent remittance has changed the entire fate of Kerala society. It has been visible in every facet of social life. Migration thus helped people in Kerala, especially expatriates to put better food on the table. Setting the big trend of Gulf migration, Muslim community, especially the Muslims in Malabar, discovered dream destinations even in the remotest sides of Arab world, which in turn ended up with regular route both by air and sea. The community has been able cash in on every opportunity from the oilrich land and life of expatriates in the Middle East has since taken a turn for the better. Hence the influence of the migration on the sociopolitical life of the Muslims in Kerala attracts extra special attention. This book is an attempt to assess the impact of Gulf migration to the sociopolitical life of the Muslims in Kerala. Dr. Ashraf Valoor is one of the acclaimed visual media journalists and an Independent researcher in Kerala. Dr. C Vinodan is currently Associate Professor and Director, School of International Relations and Politics, Maha tma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India.