A village in Kerala that Muslims shun

**Major_Armstrong** · 14 Aug 05,, 17:06

What is a Devi temple and how can we build these all over the world?

A village in Kerala that Muslims shun
By Sanu George, Indo-Asian News Service

Kollam, Aug 12 (IANS) Blame superstition for it, there is at least one village in Kerala that has no Muslim resident - and one who did spend a night died of a mysterious illness.

Thekumbhagom village near Kollam is home to some 14,000 people but not one of them is a Muslim. The reason, villagers say, is the presence of a Devi temple in the village.

"Even though I don't believe in such stories, the reality is that we have no Muslim family in the small 10 islands that make up my 'panchayat' (village council), said Krishnankutty Pillai, its 50-year-old chief.

"Old timers say no Muslim person can stay in the village beyond dusk," Pillai added. "They can come and go during the day and some Muslim traders do come and go."

The villagers are mostly fisher folk and coir workers. Most of them hail from lower middle class families.

Muslims account for almost 25 percent of the state's population.

Local legislator Shibu Baby John says he is yet to come to understand the bizarre phenomenon.

"Currently the village is cut off from the mainland. I expect things will change when a bridge connects the place with mainland Chavara.

"The strange thing is that not a single villager raises any objection to any Muslim staying in the village. But hearing that they cannot stay beyond dusk, no Muslim wants to be here."

Kovoor Kunjumon, another legislator who hails from a nearby constituency, says he has heard about a Muslim who came to stay in the village a few years ago.

"He stayed here and I was told that after some time he fell ill and passed away. Since then we are yet to hear of any Muslim person venturing to stay in the village," said Kunjumon.

--Indo-Asian News Service

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**Ray** · 14 Aug 05,, 19:12

Most extraordinary.

I didn't know of the same.

Major, you are a real serious researcher.

I can't simply believe it. Even Japan has its Moslems but here in India there is a "Moslem free" (so to say) area because the Moslems just don't want to go there!!