Tracing the Malayness of Malabaris in Malaysia: an ethnography of their identity and language

The Malabari community in Malaysia, hailing largely from Kerala, possesses a profound historical and cultural identity in their second home. The evident dearth in literature on their diaspora and related entities reveals that the personal and social narratives of this particular community are, by and large, untold, whereby their identity is least explored from an academic context. Thus, the Malabari ethnicity was explored to appreciate its assimilation into Malayness or a new identity as Malaysian, by seeking their perspectives on preserving the language of their homeland, and their manifestations of a dual identity in individual and public spheres. The paper specifically centers on the Malabaris, who represent a unique identity among Indian Muslims in the Malay Peninsula, distinguishing themselves from the predominant Malay Indians or Indian Malays. We begin by outlining their migration and the interpretation of their religion in relation to the Malay rulers. Then blending of two vernaculars and the cultural exchanges that occurred during their migration and survival are reconnoitered, fostering some meaningful dialogues between their historical and contemporary experiences. While the survival embodies multiple dimensions in its nature, process, and structure, the paper illustrates how they establish a sense of community through religious and cultural activism, embracing their Malabari identity while simultaneously acknowledging their Malay heritage in other aspects. This duality results in the complexities and confusions discussed in the subsequent analysis.