Hinglish

Arab Merchants and the African Connection

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 17: India, a Home to Many · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 17.3

Learn

Arab merchants came from the 7th century onward, trading spices along the west coast in Kerala, Gujarat and Karnataka. They came as peaceful traders, not conquerors, married local women and formed new communities. In Kerala they became part of the Mappila Muslim community and helped build India's oldest mosque, the Cheraman Juma Masjid.

The Siddis have a different story. Of African origin, they were brought to India as enslaved people by Arab, Portuguese and British traders between the 7th and 19th centuries. Some later rose in rulers' armies. Their culture blends African and Indian traditions: a distinctive dance with African-style drumming, local languages, and Hindu, Muslim or Christian faith. They are a Scheduled Tribe, but many remain poor; Hirabai Lobi of Gujarat won the Padma Shri in 2023 for helping Siddi women with banking, organic farming and livelihoods.

Explore: why did they come?

  1. Sort each group.

Remember

  • Arab merchants settled peacefully and helped build the Cheraman Juma Masjid.
  • The Siddis, brought from Africa by force, blend African and Indian culture.

Quick check

How did the Siddis come to India?

  1. brought by force as enslaved people
  2. as conquering kings
  3. as Buddhist monks
  4. as tourists
Answer

brought by force as enslaved people. Over time they kept African traditions and blended them with Indian ones.

Think about it

What could be done to improve the lives of communities like the Siddis today?

One answer

Better schools and scholarships, skills training and jobs, access to banking, and respect for their culture so they can preserve it with pride.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.