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{{Infobox ethnic group
|group = Indian Moors
|population = 27,400 (1971)<ref name=pop />
|region1 =
|pop1 =
|ref1 =
|region2 =
|pop2 =
|ref2 =
|region3 =
|pop3 =
|ref3 =
|region4 =
|pop4 =
|ref4 =
|languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Arwi]], [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], [[Arabic]]{{#tag:ref|(extinct)|group="N"}}
|religions = [[Islam]]
|related = {{Hlist|[[Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka]]|[[Tamils]]|[[Sri Lankan Moors]]|[[Tamil Muslims]]}}
|footnotes =
}}

'''Indian Moors''' were a grouping of people who existed in [[Sri Lanka]] predominantly during its [[British Ceylon|colonial period]]. They were distinguished by their [[Muslims|Muslim]] faith whose origins traced back to the [[British Raj]]. Therefore, Indian Moors refer to a number of ethnic groups such as [[Memons in Sri Lanka|Memons]], [[Musta'li Ismailism|Bohra]] and [[Khoja]]. These groups tended to retain their own ancestral practices and language.<ref name=Nubin>{{cite book|last1=Nubin|first1=Walter|title=Sri Lanka: Current Issues and Historical Background|date=2002|publisher=Nova Publishers|location=New York|isbn=1-59033-573-2|page=148|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iudi2JJLaUAC&q=Indian+Moors+in+Sri+Lanka&pg=PA147|access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref> However the largest specific group were [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Tamils]] from [[South India]].<ref name=everyculture>{{cite web|title=Moor of Sri Lanka|url=http://www.everyculture.com/South-Asia/Moor-of-Sri-Lanka.html|website=Everyculture|access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref>

Indian Moors shared a similar history to [[Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka]], however due to their decline and smaller numbers the Indian Moors have either returned to India or have declared themselves as being classified as [[Sri Lankan Moors]].

==History==

===Origins===
The Indian Moors trace their origins back to immigrants in search of business opportunities during the [[British Ceylon|British colonial period]], however some can trace their origins as far back as [[Portuguese Ceylon|Portuguese times]]. They came from various parts of [[India]].<ref name="Country Studies">{{cite web|title=Muslims|url=http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/38.htm|website=Country Studies|access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref> Indian Moors have a similar history to that of the [[Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka]]. These people served primarily as plantation labor during the 125 years preceding the independence of Sri Lanka in 1948. Though they did not sever their connections with the land of their birth.

In 1930, the [[Government of India|Indian Government]] imposed a ban on the emigration of unskilled Indian labor to Sri Lanka. The country's own immigrants Act of 1948, restricted entry into Sri Lanka only to those who had already been in Sri Lanka and held valid travel documents. With respect to the status and future of the Indian immigrants in Sri Lanka, an agreement had already been reached between the two countries and had been implemented as the following by the date of 30 October 1964: —<ref>The Population of Sri Lanka, pp. 2.</ref>

*(a) 300,000 of the Indian immigrants of Sri Lanka with their natural increase will be granted Citizenship in Sri Lanka over a period of 15 years from the date of Agreement
*(b) Government of India will accept 525,000 and their natural increase over a period of 15 years from the date of the Agreement, and
*(c) the status and position of the balance will be the subject of a separate agreement to be concluded at a later date.

===Decline===
In 1971, Indian Moors numbered 29,416 declining from 55,400 in 1963. Their decline was partly due to much of the population returning to [[India]] and some declaring themselves and being enumerated as Sri Lankan Moors.<ref name=pop46>The Population of Sri Lanka, pp. 46.</ref> The presently remaining population have been categorized as "others" in the Sri Lankan census, since 1981, due to their small numbers.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|type =
|footnote = Note: {{#tag:ref|Prior to 1911 Indian Moors were included with [[Sri Lankan Moors]]. After 1971 they were included with Others.|group="N"}}<br>Source:Data is based on [[Sri Lankan Government]] Census.<ref name=pop>{{cite web|title=Population by ethnic group, census years|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/Abstract%202013/CHAP2/2.10.pdf|website=web|publisher=Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka|access-date=2 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808035544/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/Abstract%202013/CHAP2/2.10.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2014}}</ref>
|1881 |
|1891 |
|1901 |
|1911 | 32700
|1921 | 33000
|1931 | 36300
|1946 | 35600
|1953 | 47500
|1963 | 55400
|1971 | 27400
|1981 |
|2001 |
|2012 |
}}

===Population===
With the beginning of the Sri Lankan Censuses by the British administration, population and ethnicity was conducted using the term "Nationality" until 1901. The Census Reports classified the population into seven groups viz. Europeans, Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Malays, Veddahs and others. From the 1911 onwards "Nationality" was replaced with the word "race", and it had recognition in all official and unofficial records. At the 1881 Census, Moors numbered 184,500 which increased to 228,000 in the 1901 Census.<ref name=pop43>The Population of Sri Lanka, pp. 43.</ref>

The 1911 Census separated the Tamils into [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Ceylon Tamils]] and [[Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka|Indian Tamils]] and the Moors into [[Sri Lankan Moors|Ceylon Moors]] and Indian Moors.<ref name=pop43 /> This was due to the influx of Indian Laborers, that comprised both Moors and Tamils, into the plantation regions of Sri Lanka, who had to be distinguished separately.<ref name=pop46 />

By 1971, Indian Moors numbered 29,416, declining from 55,400 in 1963. The Indian Moors were the only other ethnic group besides the Indian Tamils which had declined from the previous Census figure. Their decline was partly due to their returning to India and others declaring themselves and being enumerated as Sri Lankan Moors.<ref name=pop46 />

Indian Moors were mostly found in the [[Colombo District|Colombo]] and [[Kandy District]]s. With more than 75% of the Indian Moors found in Colombo District situated in [[Colombo]] city.<ref name=pop46 />

===Ethnic groups===
The Indian Moors was a collective of ethnic groups, identified by their Islamic faith and similar geographic origin. The Largest of those groups being [[Tamils]] from [[South India]]. Others included the [[Memons in Sri Lanka|Memons]], originally from [[Sindh|Sind]] (in modern [[Pakistan]]), who first arrived in 1870; in the 1980s they numbered only about 3,000. The Bohra and the [[Khoja]] came from [[Gujarat]], [[India]] after 1880; in the 1980s they collectively numbered fewer than 2,000.<ref name="Country Studies" />

==Religion==
{{main|Islam in Sri Lanka}}

Indian Moors are predominantly followers of [[Islam]], hence their cultural identity being defined by their religion. Most Indian Moor groups follow [[Sunni Islam]], with the exception of the [[Sulaymani|Bohras]], who are Shiites.<ref name=everyculture />

==See also==
* [[Indians in Sri Lanka]]
* [[Memons in Sri Lanka]]
* [[Sri Lankan Moors]]
* [[Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka]]
* [[Islam in Sri Lanka]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=N}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|title=The Population of Sri Lanka|year=1974|publisher=C.I.C.R.E.D. Series|location=Moors|url=http://www.cicred.org/Eng/Publications/pdf/c-c46.pdf|archive-date=2014-07-01|access-date=2014-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701070027/http://www.cicred.org/Eng/Publications/pdf/c-c46.pdf|url-status=dead}}

{{Immigration to Sri Lanka}}
{{British Ceylon period topics}}

[[Category:Sri Lankan people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan people of Pakistani descent]]
[[Category:Islam in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Muslims]]

Indian Moors - Revision history

Ansuma Basumatary: added a pg!