"There are several evidences, which need further explorations, and deep investigations, to prove the Hindu origin of the islanders. Hindu family names are found in all the islands. There are many houses having the word “illam” with their names. In Kerala, only the Nampoothiris houses were exclusively called “illam” and that’s why a few local historians suggest that the early settlers were the Nampoothiris. Whatever may be the castes of the Malabar people, who migrated from the Malabar coast, one thing is very definite that they were Hindus, which needs, of course, deep investigations."