87. Levin Jacob

Abstract 87
Levin Jacob

 Margamkali: The Construction of Narratives to Construct an Identity

Abstract

This paper aims to look at Margamkali, a traditional dance form of the Syrian Christians of Kerala, as a crucial form of narrative. The paper would argue that as part of oral literature, Margamkali, has enabled the Mar Thoma Christians to form a sense of identity. Claimed to be developed in 4 A. D, Margamkali depicts the arrival of St. Thomas in Kerala to spread “God’s words”, and therefore considered as old as the Christian community of Kerala.

These narratives are central to the debates revolving around the origin of Syrian Christians. This paper would try to trace how these narratives significantly helped the construction of the Syrian Christian community. The attempt is also to understand how these narratives helped the community to isolate themselves from the ‘other’ (natives), while they have taken ideas (where it has a very close association with the mythologies of India), rhythm (of Carnatic music) and the style from the Dravidian dance and music tradition. The Syrian tradition (the tunes remind one of the tunes of the Syrian liturgy) has its contribution to these dance and musical traditional. The research is an attempt to analyse the ‘real’ identity of a Malayali Syrian Christian which is intervened by both Hindu and Syrian traditions.