Calicut People

The centuries of trade across the Indian Ocean gave Kozhikode a cosmopolitan population. Hindus constitute the majority of the population, and next come the Muslim and the Christian communities respectively. The Muslims of Kozhikode District are known as Mappilas. A great majority of them are traditional Sunnis following the Shafi School of thought and the second majority is the followers of "Salafi" thoughts.They are known as Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen,who caused an accelerated growth in social development and education among Muslims.Christianity is believed to have been introduced in Kerala in 52 CE, and the Christian population expanded with the presence of the Portuguese, Dutch, and British starting in the 16th century.