Kilakarai

Kilakarai is an eastern coastal town and a port, located in southern Tamil Nadu. It was a flourishing seaport and a gateway to places as far as Madurai until the early 20th century. The famous pearl belt known as the Gulf of Mannar in the Bay of Bengal is dotted with small islands Appa Tivu, Nallathanni Theevu, Shuli Tivu, Uppu Tanni Tivu, Talari Tivu and Musal Tivu. The coastal line of Kilakarai is formed by a series of small bays and coral reefs sheltering the town from the ocean. It was also called as "Quilicare",[1] kirkari, Sembi Nadu, Korkai, Powthira Manicka Pattinam,[2] "Kelikkarai", "Ninathaan mudithaan pattinam", "Seppi Nadu", "lebbat pattan" (pattan mentioned in voyages of Ibn Battuta & map displayed in Ibn Battuta Mall). A strong cultural connection exists between Kayalpatnam, Adirampattinam and Kilakarai.

The prime occupations of the people were pearl, conch, sea trade and transport.[3] The mid-20th century saw a decline in the occupations of the people of Kilakarai, with the advent of surface transport the merchant shipping fleets declined and Kilakarai aka Killikare[4] ceased to be a harbour and port. The cultured pearl industry and dragnet fishing that destroyed the coral reefs choked the once robust pearl trade, or Muthu Salabam. The conch and coral industries declined due to new regulations and restrictions.

Kilakarai is renowned for its communal harmony. The majority of the population here is Muslim with people of other faith Hindu, Christians living together. The communal harmony that always existed is best exemplified by the famous Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple and Kilakarai Jumma Pallivasal (Vallal Seethakathi is interred here) at Kilakarai, while the architecture is the same the workforce was provided by the erstwhile ruler Sethupathi of Ramnad and most of the materials for both the edifice were supplied by the Kilakarai merchant navies. The town is reminiscent of Spanish Moorish architecture and is located about 60 km south west of the temple town of Rameswaram.

It has the oldest mosque in India known as the Palaiya Kuthba Palli. It has a unique pre-Islamic heritage of more than 1300 years. The Kilakarai Muslims or Kilakarai Moors form 80% of the population of Kilakarai. Ibnu Batutah once said in his travel notes "it's the place where most Arab settlers live and he was surprised to see them living as in Arab land".

The migration of the people after the decline of the marine trade and industry resulted in people exploring the other parts of the globe. Kilakarai has a large expatriate population and a high literacy rate. This has enabled the people of Kilakarai to span the globe and become active merchants in the Middle and Far East, US and European markets.

Hameedia Primary School was started as a Madrasa in the year 1870, and gradually became a Thinnai Palli and became a registered School in 1938 due to the efforts of K.T.M. Hussain Sahib, fondly known as Haajiaar. This school is completing its sesquicentennial year (150th year) in 2020. The Hameedia Primary School Alumni Association - (HPSAA) consists of great stalwarts of Kilakarai including the founders of ETA, Crescent, Sathak Group and more than 100 institutions and business enterprises worldwide.

The 1970s decline of marine trade resulted in people migrating to other countries for business and jobs. Now as per the law of nature the reverse migration is all set to happen. Post-Covid, pandemic and Lockdowns job losses have become the order of the day and disruptions are all set to happen. The Gulf mission to minimise the Indian immigrants, improved and fast-developing job and business opportunities in Tamil Nadu, the native bonding, self-content nature etc. have made many people come back home for good.

To facilitate more people find jobs, career guidance, new business opportunities, the Kilakarai Trade Fair is planned annually to organise business summits, Job Fair, Free Medical Camp, Food Counters, Seminars and Talk shows.Leading Brands, institutions, Business houses are regular participants in these events. This year- 2022 edition is being planned during December 2022 at Kilakarai.

Hameedia High School founded in 1940s beside the old Arabic Madrasa Aroosiya Thaika, was a catalyst to more graduates from Kilakarai. With the arrival of Mohamed Sathak Engineering College[5] and then the Thassim Beevi Abdul Kader College for Women[6] the number of graduates from this traditional town has seen a steady rise.

Kilakarai was constituted as a panchayat in the year 1885. As per G.O. No. 1157LN, date: 3 December 1885. It has since been upgraded as a Special Town Panchayat as per Director of Town Panchayat, Madras as per G.O. No. 1481/82/J5, Dated on 25 January 1982 and then upgraded as per G.O. No. 300 and 301 Dated on 24 August 2004 as a Third Grade Municipality.

The Muslim community of Kilakarai is philanthropic in nature, with assistance given to downtrodden sections of society, such as Dalits in Tirunelveli.[7]

According to 2011 census, Keelakarai had a population of 38,355 with a sex-ratio of 948 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.[8] A total of 4,391 were under the age of six, constituting 2,204 males and 2,187 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 2.83% and .% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 82.63%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[8] The town had a total of : 7448 households. There were a total of 12,033 workers, comprising 29 cultivators, 47 main agricultural labourers, 165 in house hold industries, 10,765 other workers, 1,027 marginal workers, 15 marginal cultivators, 18 marginal agricultural labourers, 38 marginal workers in household industries and 956 other marginal workers.[9] As per the religious census of 2011, Keelakarai had 79.92% Muslims, 17.6% Hindus, 1.16% Christians, 0.01% Sikhs, 0.01% Jains, and 1.31% following other religions.[10]

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  KILAKARAI STONE BEACH
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  I LOVE KILAKARAI
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  KILAKARAI STREET VIEW
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  KILAKARAI MOSQUE
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  EID CELEBRATION AT KILAKARAI
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  KILAKARAI OLD BRIDGE
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  KILAKARAI LIGHTHOUSE
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  View from the dock at sunrise
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  Interior of Odakarai Palli (masjid)
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  Odakarai Palli (masjid) under conservation
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  Masjid ul Jamiah
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  Masjid ul Jamiah (3rd oldest masjid of Kilakarai)
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  Masjid ul Jamiah
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  Corridor in Masjid ul Jamiah
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  Interior of Masjid ul Jamiah
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  Interior of Palaiya Jumma Palli or The Old Jumma Masjid of Kilakarai, the oldest masjid of India
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  Amir ul Muminin Abu Baker Siddiq Palli (masjid)
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  Tombstone with Arabic & Tamil (Arwi) inscription (at The Old Jumma Masjid of Kilakarai)
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  Kulangarai Appa Palli (masjid), East Street, Kilakkarai
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  Interior of Kulangarai Appa Palli (masjid), East Street, Kilakarai
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  Typical street

• "Tamil Nadu's Kilakarai – the birth place of world famous Indian conches". onlypunjab.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2007.
• "An oasis in a desert A district bridging the gulf". The Hindu. 7 August 2005. Archived from the original on 9 August 2005.

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