S K Pottekkatt’s In the Land of the Kappiris: A Journey into the Heart of Africa
Exploration and mapping of Africa began around 1850 and continued intothe nineteenth century.S. K Pottekkatt, the Indian travel writer from Kerala State in India, set out to Africa. This study focusses on S. K Pottekkat as a travel writer who made Malayalis aware of the geography, life and culture of Africa. The Kappiri had no place in the land of his birth. Beira was a source of great relief for Indians travelling from other countries because Portuguese Africa was fairly free from racial discrimination. The Gujarati businessman was prominent. They had mastered the language of the natives and had in depth knowledge of their customs as well as their needs and so prospered well. Who had the greater right in Africa: the British or the Indians?
