Lakshadweep - Kerala royal family gets Rs 23,000

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   The original owners of the Lakshadweep Islands have demanded a higher
 compensation from the government, if not the islands themselves. Their 
ancestors, the only Muslim royal family in Kerala, had signed over the 
islands to the British a century ago at a malikana of Rs 23,000 a year, 
and it has remained that much since.
From 1545 to 1819, the islands of Androth, Kavaratti, Agathi, 
Minicoy and Kalpeni were in the possession of the Arakkal family, which 
ruled the North Kerala coast and is based in Kannur. In 1908, when the 
family signed the final deal with the British, the price of gold was Rs 
3.30 per sovereign, says the current generation. "If you look at the 
present gold prices, we are entitled to Rs 13 crore a year as 
compensation. The royal family feels insulted at the pittance being 
paid,'' says Adi Raja Muhammed Rafi, son of current royal head Sainaba 
Aysha Beevi. The family followed a matriarchal system of rule. 
Rafi says the family of 150 is struggling to finance its royal 
rituals and maintain its infrastructure, which includes four mosques. A 
royal trust has been formed to fight for the demand for a higher 
malikana. Rafi says the family is mobilising public opinion as the 
Centre has not responded to a petition it sent. 
Last month, the Kerala government decided to give a monthly 
pension of Rs 2,500 each to 826 members of the Kozhikode-based Zamorin 
royal family. The Zamorins had ruled the Malabar coast for several 
centuries.

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AdminKing Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Location: India Status: Offline Points: 465	Post Options Post Reply Quote AdminKing Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Lakshadweep - Kerala royal family gets Rs 23,000 Posted: 25 Jul 2013 at 1:25am
	The original owners of the Lakshadweep Islands have demanded a higher compensation from the government, if not the islands themselves. Their ancestors, the only Muslim royal family in Kerala, had signed over the islands to the British a century ago at a malikana of Rs 23,000 a year, and it has remained that much since. From 1545 to 1819, the islands of Androth, Kavaratti, Agathi, Minicoy and Kalpeni were in the possession of the Arakkal family, which ruled the North Kerala coast and is based in Kannur. In 1908, when the family signed the final deal with the British, the price of gold was Rs 3.30 per sovereign, says the current generation. "If you look at the present gold prices, we are entitled to Rs 13 crore a year as compensation. The royal family feels insulted at the pittance being paid,'' says Adi Raja Muhammed Rafi, son of current royal head Sainaba Aysha Beevi. The family followed a matriarchal system of rule. Rafi says the family of 150 is struggling to finance its royal rituals and maintain its infrastructure, which includes four mosques. A royal trust has been formed to fight for the demand for a higher malikana. Rafi says the family is mobilising public opinion as the Centre has not responded to a petition it sent. Last month, the Kerala government decided to give a monthly pension of Rs 2,500 each to 826 members of the Kozhikode-based Zamorin royal family. The Zamorins had ruled the Malabar coast for several centuries.