The English East India Company acquired Malabar from Tipu Sultan through the Treaty of Srirangapatnam in 1792, after which it became part of British India. This marked the first time Malabar came under foreign colonial rule. When the British established control in India, their main objective was to exploit the region’s resources. During the 18th century, the East India Company introduced judicial and political systems in its territories to strengthen its rule. The formation of Malabar as a distinct region within the Malabar coast is arguably a development that took place after the European arrival; it became a concrete administrative entity when it became a district in the British Madras presidency. ‘British set out to make space for themselves as the rulers of India they had to devise novel, and exceptional theories of governance. The western medical discourse occupied an extremely important place in the colonization of India. The introduction of western medicine in Malabar was an important milestone in the development of modern health care.

Key Words:

Malabar, British, administration, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, English East India Company, western Medicine, smallpox, cholera, plague, vaccination, Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Naturopathy, Madras presidency, Indian Medical Services.