Kerala Ports, Churches & Community Institutions

This program situates the Thomas Christian community within the broader Indian Ocean world, tracing how trade, Syriac liturgical traditions, Portuguese encounter, and local social structures shaped a distinctive Christian identity in Kerala.

Through parish visits, architectural study, archival exposure, and guided community dialogue, students examine Christianity as lived heritage, embedded in language, ritual, education, and civic institutions.

Students will:

Explain the historical distinctiveness of the Thomas Christian tradition within global Christianity.
Examine how maritime trade shaped religious identity formation in Kerala.
Analyze colonial encounter and its influence on liturgy, architecture, and ecclesial authority.
Conduct ethical oral history and community-heritage documentation.
Produce a micro-archive portfolio integrating interviews, site briefs, and interpretive mapping.

History

Anthropology

Theology

Colonial & Postcolonial Studies

Sociology

Global Christianity Studies

South Asian Studies

Heritage Studies

Kochi

Kerala Port Corridor

Community Churches & Parish Institutions

Archival/Educational Institutions

Day	Location	Academic Focus & Activities	Learning Emphasis
1	Kochi	Arrival; orientation; introduction to Kerala’s maritime and Christian history	Establishing a historical and cultural frame
2–3	Kochi	Seminar: Thomas Christian origins; Syrian liturgical traditions; oral history ethics workshop	Building respectful community documentation practice
4–9	Kerala Corridor	Church architecture study; port history immersion; parish and institution conversations (partner-led); guided reflection prompts	Exploring faith, trade, identity, and adaptation across centuries
10–12	Kochi	Synthesis studio; micro-archive assembly lab	Integrating oral histories, architectural reading, and historical interpretation
13	Kochi	Departure	Closure