Uru making techniques of Beypore coast , Kerala

Abstract

Various civilizations all over the world depended on water routes along with land for military expansion and trading. India, because of its strategic geography, acted as a transit between eastern and western waterways. This gave rise to many cultural routes which helped in forming India’s rich diverse character. The port towns became the centres of cultural confluence. This in turn influenced different crafts related to water vessels or ships as we like to call them today. Humans started to improvise their techniques of boat making with the help of indigenous facilities they were provided with. The ship building industry which we see in contemporary times is an example of the fact the how the traditional boat making industry has adapted to modern needs and grown to its glory. Urus are outstanding examples of how traditional techniques still continue embracing the adaptability. Urus are the wooden boats made following traditional methods which can be traced back to the time of Arabian influence on Malabar coast. There is a need to acknowledge the skill of the resolute craftsmen who have preserved the art and science of Uru making till today. The overall purpose of the thesis is to understand the concept of ship building heritage of Beypore coast and the importance of traditional skills in it. Urus reflects the craftsmanship of Beypore. The thesis refers to the technical aspects of Uru making, the science behind it, factors associated with the traditions of boat making. This thesis follows a research approach together the information related to the traditional wisdom of boat making to cement the significance of the craft in conservation. The basic design of the thesis includes framing the different studies related to boat making, documenting an Uru making i.e. the product and the process. The study focuses on the significance of community involvement in Uru making. The transformations that have happened in Uru design over the centuries, the factors influencing the change, and the compatibility and advantages of traditional materials used in Uru making are analysed. The thesis also looks upon the spatial manifestations of Uru making activities, spatial requirements for an Uru making yard, the basic structure of Uru and how the hull profile becomes the stabilising spine of Uru. Importance of different wooden members, nail system and the process itself are studied, by documenting and analysing them. Major outcome of the study would be to understand the ship building heritage of Beypore coast and to establish the significance of communities and the traditional skill they posses in the making of an Uru.