The second volume of the book, Malabar: Christian Memorials,
which covers the area from Wynad to Travancore, will be released in January 2017.
This is a sequel to the earlier book with the same title, that dealt with Kannur,
Tellicherry and Mahe, and published in February 2012.
Both books were researched and produced by New York social
anthropologist Dr John C Roberts and Calicut-based journalist N P Chekkutty and
published by South India Research Associates (SIRA), a voluntary network of scholars
and genealogical researchers. This is the third book of genealogical research from
SIRA in the past five years.
The present book deals with both European colonial legacy as
well as the local Christian society in Malabar and has details on thousands of
burials based on meticulous research in cemeteries, church burial registers and
archival records. It covers English, French,
Dutch, Portuguese and other European burials as well as of local denominations and
covers all major towns and colonial outposts like Calicut, Malappuram, Palghat,
Cochin, Alapuzha, Kottayam, Quilon and Trivandrum.
The 300-page book has an extensive collection of rare photographs
in an eight-page colour section. It also has a number of pen portraits of important
individuals as well as a user-friendly index that will help researchers find the
burials with ease.
For those who book in advance, publishers offer attractive
discounts. For details, write to info.sira@yahoo.in
