The Role of Keyis in the Mercantile Activities in Malabar

The mercantile history of Malabar occupies a significant position in the socio-economic history of Kerala. Among the indigenous merchant communities that emerged during the colonial period, the Keyis of Tellicherry played a decisive role in shaping maritime commerce, pepper trade, and colonial economic networks in Malabar. This article examines the origin, growth, and mercantile activities of the Keyi family and analyses their contribution to the commercial transformation of Malabar under the English East India Company. The paper also discusses the family system, architecture, social customs, and political influence of the Keyi community in North Malabar. The study highlights how local merchant groups adapted to colonial capitalism and contributed to the economic transformation of the Malabar Coast. The study also explores the maritime networks of the Keyis, their relationship with colonial powers, social organisation, architectural contributions, and their influence on the political economy of North Malabar. Using historical sources, travel accounts, colonial records, and secondary studies, this paper argues that the Keyis represented an indigenous mercantile elite that successfully adapted to the changing structures of colonial capitalism.