The population of Kannur district
as per the 2001 census is 24,12,365. The district
holds the eighth position among districts of Kerala
in terms of the total population. The Hindu community
in this district, as elsewhere in the country, is
organised on the basis of castes and subcastes. The
broad divisions of the community are Thiyya, Nairs,
Ambalavasis, Brahmins and Kammalan.
 The
Thiyyas form the majority among the Hindu community
in Kannur district. Though they correspond to the
Ezhavas in the southern parts of the State, both the
communities disclaim any such connection.
The Muslims, here known as Mappilas, are the descendants
of the Arab traders and forms the second largest community.
Majority of them are Sunnis. Malik Ibn Dinar of Arabia
is believed to have founded mosques at Valapattanam,
Madai, Sreekantapuram and Dharmadam. Large number
of conversions were made into Islam from various sections
of the population and before long, it became an influential
religion. The district has the unique distinction
of having had the State's lone Muslim royal house
- that of the Arakkal Royal Family which played an
important role in the political as well as Islamic
history of the district.
 Though
Christianity is believed to have been introduced in
Kerala by the Apostle St. Thomas in 52 AD, the religion
made progress only with the advent of Portuguese towards
the close of the 15th century. The Christians belong
mainly to four Churches: the Syro-Malabar church,
the Latin Catholic Church, the Church of South India
and the Orthodox Syrian Church. During the last few
decades, there has been a large influx of Syrian Catholics
from the Travancore-Cochin area of the State. They
have made significant contribution to the agricultural
improvements in district. The Protestant Missions
have been at work here since the first half of the
19th century when the German Evangelical Mission was
founded by Mr. Gundert. Most of their converts were
from the Thiyya community.
The population of scheduled castes and tribes is 4.86
per cent of the total population of the district.
The major scheduled caste is Cheruman and the important
tribe is Kurichiya. Other important scheduled castes
are Paraya, Nayadi, Mavilan, Valluvan, Adiyan , Chingathan,
Kader, Karimpalan, Kattunayakan, Kudiya, Kurichiya,
Malayalar, Malayan, Mulla Kurumbar and Paniya. Urali
Kurumbars are the major scheduled tribals. |
