The ‘Nasranis’, meaning the followers of the man from Nazareth, are like the Coptic Christians of Egypt, a two millennium old ancient Christian community on the verdant Malabar coast of southwestern India, Kerala. With a population of about 5 million and forming just 15% of the state’s population, the Syrian Christians as they are also called, are front runners in social, economic, cultural, educational and spiritual growth globally and across India and Kerala.
This Coffee Table Book traces the origins of the Nasranis, and the impressive strides the community has made across Kerala and the world.
Four authors from diverse backgrounds have joined to produce this book, a work of devotion, love with a passion for recording the community’s 2000 year old origins and their history, culture, cuisine and customs. The book is also a visual treat with photographs of ancient and modern churches, ancestral Tharavads, the traditional homes of ancient families, and of their unique festivals and ceremonies. The book even includes a Chapter on Syrian Christian cuisine with some mouth-watering traditional recipes, portraying in both words and images these and other aspects of the Syrian Christians of Kerala.
The Syrian Christian community today includes a large diaspora around the world. The book then is truly a Bible for the newer and future generations of Syrian Christians who may know little about their community. The book would make the younger generation of the community and every Malayali and Indian proud of its rich heritage.
The book is a must read for every Malayali and every Indian and its diaspora across the world.
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(Late) Dr. Thanksy Francis Thekkekara, M. P. Joseph, Rev. Fr. Pius Malekandathil, Tanuja Mullick
Dr. Thanksy Francis Thekkekara lived in Mumbai. A retired civil servant from the Indian Administrative Service (Maharashtra cadre), she worked in the gender and development space, for the financial inclusion of poor women through self help groups. She was an avid votary of pluralism and delighted in the potpourri of cultures that is India.
Menacherry Paul Joseph IAS was Collector, Ernakulam and Mayor, Cochin when Pope John Paul II visited Cochin. His seminal essay on Syrian Christianity was published in Routledge’s ‘Eastern Christianity and Politics in the 21st Century’. His books include ‘My Driver Tulong’ a loving description of Cambodia where he spent 7 years. Son in law of K M Mani, Joseph is close to the Syro Malabar hierarchy and other Syrian Churches.
Pius Malekandathil is a Former Professor in History at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and currently, Vicar General of the Diocese of Kothamangalam. Besides publishing 20 books on themes of international trade, religion and urbanity, he has been an internationally reputed scholar on maritime history and Indian Ocean Studies.
Tanuja Mullick, née Philipose, has roots in Mavelikera and North Parur.
Her maternal great grandfather's sister was married to Chathuruthy Iyporah, a nephew of Mar Gregorious of Parumala. (Ref. ‘Nasrani Simham : M.A. Chakko ‘ by M. Kurian, pg 29 . Book published by CSS Books Tiruvalla)
Tanuja's published books are Woundikins, Rite of Brikha, For a Cacamander.
