The word Mappila (sometimes pronounced as Moplah) comes from the ancient Dravidian language and means “great child” (maha, “great” and pilla, “child”). There are many theories explaining the origins of this term. The Mappilas are mostly the descendants of foreign traders from Middle Eastern descent who visited the southwestern coast of India (known as the Malabar Coast) through the Indian Ocean trade routes. The exemplary character and honesty of these foreign traders impressed the native Hindu rulers in this part of India.