Muziris Heritage Project - NDTV Documentary
August 28, 2015, 6:30:00 PM
This NDTV documentary, which was broadcast on August 29, 2015, discusses the excavations at Pattanam; the oldest mosque in India, Cheraman Masjid; religious peace amongst Hindus, Christians, Muslims, and Jews; and the possibility of this location becoming a future world heritage site. The Muziris HeritageProject has a much broader meaning, symbolism, and breadth than just resurrecting the past. It draws attention to the complex culture of tolerance and blending that provides not only Kerala but all of India its position in the global community.
A long time ago, ships laden with gold sailed to cross the sea to bring back pepper and spices from the land of Muziris. Muziris in the southern tip of India became the important centre of the famous spice route. Malayalam writer Sethu Madhavan speaks about Muziris. He says the Romans were the most powerful. Despite that, they were looking for pepper. During the winter, they used pepper as a preservative for storing meat. Since they wanted to locate the exact location where pepper was grown, they came to Muziris. Many historical texts make reference to the ancient port city of Muziris, where Arabs, Greeks, and Roman traders brought in ships filled with gold in exchange for spices and pepper. In 1341, a flood in Periyar washed away the entire Muziris. The Muziris' heritage project is an ambitious one, seeking to unearth history literally.