MARICAR IN HISTORY

Footnote In History

Maricar's hail from Kayalpatnam, a seashore town in Southern Tamil Nadu, India which is steeped in history. Arab traders had a flourishing business in South India with the Pandian Kingdom (capital at Madurai), the rulers of Malabar (Kerala) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Kayalpatnam was a major international port with trade relations with the Arabs, Europeans & Chinese. The great international traveler of yore, Marco Polo had visited Kayalpatnam in the middle ages and described it as a thriving international port.

With the advent of Islam, these Arab traders introduced the new faith in the region. They married amongst the local population and their descendents are the present day population of Kulasekarapatnam, Kayalpatnam, Keezhakkarai, Maricarpatnam, Adirampatnam, Tondi, Karaikal etc. along the Tamil Nadu coast; many settlements on the Malabar / Kerala coast and the southern sea coast of Ceylon like Galle, Batticola.

The main item of trade of the Arabs was natural pearls fished in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait separating Ceylon (Sri Lanka) from South India and horses. These pearls were exchanged with horses brought from Arabia.

The name Maricar / Marikar / Maraicar / Maraikar is a corruption of the Tamil word "maraikkalayar" meaning people engaged in shipping trade. Yes, it was indeed so. The community of Maricars, found amongst settlements along the Tamil Nadu,Kerala and Sri Lankan coast were engaged in international trade in gems, pearls, horses and commodities for centuries. Today, we talk of foreign and global trade, but they were the pioneers. The present generation have not given up their forefathers' tradition of international trade. They can be found all over the world in important trading cities in India, Sri Lanka, South East Asia, China, Far East, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Americas, engaged in a variety of international trade and industries, more so in centers of gems and jewellery.

The Family

Syed Ahamed Maricar was a leading diamond, gem & jewellery merchant in South India in late 1800s based in Madras. He used to import Belgium diamonds, Sri Lanka gemstones, African & South American precious stones like sapphires and emeralds. His clientele was the elite of that generation. He had extensive business relations with diamond, gem & jewellery merchants from Bombay, Karachi, Sri Lanka, Europe, America and Far East.

He used to specialize in clean & deep coloured emeralds from South America which was lapped up by his clients. This quality and colour had become a hallmark in South India for the description of emeralds amongst clients and dealers and it continues till today. It is known as MARICAR'S PATCHAI meaning MARICAR'S GREEN synonymous with most preferred and sought after emeralds.

His son Mr. Syed Mohamed Maricar was a pioneering gem merchant who traveled all over the world from 1940s to trade in gems & jewellery.

He exhibited the world's largest star sapphires from Sri Lanka at the Chicago International gem & jewellery exhibition in 1952 and sold it there. This stone changed hands later and is now housed in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D C and the stone is called as "STAR OF ASIA"

He established offices in New York, London, Antwerp, Zurich, Hong Kong, Colombo, Bombay, Madras, Trivandrum etc.. and had extensive business relations with all leading gem merchants from America, Europe, Africa, Sri Lanka, India, South East Asia, and Far East. He procured rough stones in diamonds, ruby, emerald etc. from Africa, South America & Sri Lanka and sold the finished goods in Europe, America and Far East.

The present generation of Maricars headed by S.A. Maricar continue the traditions and ethics of the earlier generation. The business contacts and clients established by the earlier generation is being continued and developed upon. Honesty and integrity which is the most essential and pre-requisite in gem & jewellery business is the characteristic of the Maricars.