Heritages & Stories of Kannur

Palot Moosa Kutty Haji and the legacy of Trade in Kannur City The Advertisement read “ Dear Brothers, From one rupee and five Anna to six and a quarter rupees worth Mumbai Surumas (traditional, natural eyeliner) and exotic perfumes from eight annas to twenty rupees. Also for all your clothing needs. We provide delivery via V.P too” Interestingly this advertisement was written in the old font of  Arabi-Malayalam on a calendar nearly ninety years ago in a shop on the busy  Bellard road. Those days advertisements and notices were published in newspapers and calendars. People ordered goods via telegram or postcards and vehicle posts delivered the goods. Trade between Kannur and other cities in India and even other foreign countries such as Egypt, Turkey and present-day Pakistan was very much prevalent and Moosa Kutty Haji had very strong business ties with them and had goods exported to such far off places.  It was written in the advertisement “ P Moosa Kutty Haji...

Kannur City has welcomed the people from different parts of the world wholeheartedly from centuries. The Population of Kannur City consists of hundreds of Families who migrated to Kannur in flocks from Goa,Tamil Nadu, Kollam and Palakad. The Arrakal Muslim Royal Dynasty of Kannur who once controlled the maritime business and markets in Kannur lost its monarchy and kingship after signing a treaty with the then British General Robert Abercromby in 1790 and was reduced to the status of governance and power. Soon after this incident some business houses who had good ties with the Arrakal Royal Dynasty slowly started moving out. The British strategy of subduing the kingdom with such acts also played a major part in these events. The Arrakal Beevi gave instructions to the officials to find a way out in solving this predicament of the reduction of food and grain stocks. During these days the officials of the kingdom noticed a ship that was sailing from Goa to Thalassery with food grains. T...