Knanaya Migration Controversy

[JAMES JOHN]

Dear Thomas Kannathumuryil, This is in response to your email about the controversy on Knanaya migration. First of all there is no controversy and there have never been a doubt about the Knanaya migration to Malankara in the history. According to your non-knanite christian brotheren's argument he says " King Cheraman Perumal ruled Kodungalloor some were during 16th or 17th century". This is an example  that he doesn't know anything about Knanaya history or any other history and you don't know the answers. King Cheraman Perumal never ruled Malankara during 16th or 17th century, it was the Portugeese, Dutch and the British who ruled India at that time and the local rulers who fought against the invaders were Marthanda Varma, Pazhassi Raja, Tippu Sulthan, Sivaji and other kings. There was no Kerala state nor Kodungalloor nor Malayalam language until the mid 8th century. Kodungalloor is a modern name. It was known as Mussiri Pattanam at the time of Knai thoma in mid 3rd century AD. At that period languages spoken were Sanskrit, Chem Tamil, and Parsi. Prominent religions were Budhism, Jainsm, hindu, parsi and followers of Jesus Christ the Marthoma christains.                         Cheraman Perumal's empire starts from the bigining of AD 300 to mid 800s AD. Cheraman Perumal wasn't the one and only king. There were several Cheraman Perumals ruled Malliyam kara at that period, like in the Mughal empire several Mughal emperors like Babar, Akhbar, Humayoon, and Aurangaseb etc.                          In AD 345 the first Cheraman Perumal, his brother Rama varma Thamburan, his minister Vettathu Mannan etc gave a warm welcome to Knai Thoma & party and offered 72 priveleges to those Syrian Christians which is true.                          Ask your doubtful brotheren about the importance of 786 for Muslims. AD 786 is the year that the Islamic world believes that Prophet Muhammad's resurection to haven  and Islamic faith starts. Until Muhammad Nabi's time there were no Islam religion but believers of one god Allah ( Jahova for Christians). Muslims consider Abraham as their forefather and believe in Adam Bappa, Eve Umma  as their forefathers. For Christians, Abraham is the forefather and they are descendants of Issac and Jacob. The other history starts from Abraham's son Ismail and his followers.                          Although there were trade relationship between Arabs, Persians and India even before 2000 AD, the true Islamic faith came to India in AD 800s. So it is the last king Cheraman Perumal who ruled Vanchi Nadu(Malabar) in the mid 800s converted from Budhism to Islam and made a pilgrimage to Mecca and died in Oman which is true. The Persian territory Oman was named by the British in the mid 1800s AD only.                          So again, Cheraman Perumal was not the ruler in AD 1600s and 1700s. In the year AD 1498 Vasco De Gama the Portugeese explorer arrived at Kodungalloor. The portugeese ruled India until about AD 1665 followed by the Dutch. Later the British conquered India and established Easr India Company in the AD 1720s. The Portugeese brought Catholic faith to India in AD 1500s. Some People still believe that Catholicism came to India through Christ's Desciple  Mar Thoma Sleeha in AD 52.which is untrue. Mar Thoma never preached Catholicism but Christianity. He baptized people to believers of Jesus Christ. Some believe that Catholicism brought by Knai Thoma in AD 345, which is also untrue. Knai Thoma's team were people originated from Syrian Christian faith. That is why Knanites are called Suriyanis.  If you check old S.S.L.C book of Knanites  it says Syrian Christian on the religion column. Thanks for reading, James Vattaparambil, Atlanta. Formerly Hartford, Connecticut.