There are historical records of commercial trading between Kerala and Middle East during 7th Century AD. The Jews and Arabs of the Pre-Islamic period were among the pioneers of spice trade with Kerala. It is believed that Apostle of Jesus, St. Thomas himself, introduced Christianity in India in the year 52 A.D. The early Christians (St. Thomas Christians) were called Syrian Christians because they followed the Syriac liturgy, a dialect of Aramaic, the language of Jesus. With the arrival of Portuguese (1498) and the establishment of their political influence, the Latin rite emerged as an important factor and a large community of Latin Christians sprang up and grew, particularly in the coastal areas. The arrival of Islam in India could be traced back to the sea port named Kodungaloor, an ancient sea port located at present day central Kerala. This happened during the life time of Muhammad, the founder of the religion and the propagator was Malik bin Deenar. Probably in the 7th century.
The Portuguese though they arrived in India for Trade purpose, sere also involved in conversion, voluntary or otherwise (many fled to outside Portuguese controlled areas and even, there were some prominent Hindus who controlled trade accounting and tax collection etc as Portuguese were mere soldiers rather than Tradesmen, and there is evidence some Hindu families were treated with high esteem as they managed trade, accounting for the Portuguese. Basically at that time, there was no term as India was neither one country, nor immigration control and was ruled by several kings, feudatories and was no at all one India and one rule. Secondly, the Spanish and Portuguese missionaries deemed Christianity is the true religion and wanted to propagate and though initially some force may have been used, later, when rest of Goa was occupied by the Portuguese, such procedure no longer existed. All that happened during the time, there was no wireless communication or internal cyber media. One should understand. Even the Christians who fled Goa for various reasons did not revert to their previous religion as they felt at home with Christianity and continued their new faith despite the absence of spiritual head for months together. Marriages were conducted at home and solemnized only when the priest was available, probably the couple may have had children too by the time the Goan priest showed up to solemnize these weddings!!. So why all this hue and cry?
