Traditional Boat-making (An Art - in the verge of extinction)

Jamilabadh, a silent hamlet located close to Pulicat Lake was never really a village until the earlier 1980s. The village (which it is in recent years), is a pre-dominant Muslim community who descended from “Thonirev” - a small village near Andhra Pradesh during the land acquiring process for setting up Sathish Dhawan Space Centre @ Sriharikota island. These people were famous for building “Naatu-padagu” (traditional boats) from 15^th century and they have also established strong trade connection with Arabs during those periods.

Art of Boat making

Traditional Boat making requires time anywhere between 25-45 days to complete a single boat depending on the no. of laborers involved. Fishermen have to shell out 1.2 – 1.5 lakh Rs. depending on the model, type of wood to be used. Though it cost around 30,000 – 50,000 Rs a decade back. Dwelling in a new region was never easy for these boat makers and they thrived hard to establish themselves through their business. Jamilabadh was popular for their reliable boats; villagers even claim to have made boats for customers from 

Orissa and Gujarat.

Their work system is solely based on craftsmanship with the use of wood, iron-nails, and resin extracted from the “Kongu” tree which they call as Kongu-paal. A fully completed boat is so reliable that it can carry over 3 tonne and with proper maintenance can last for 15-18 years. There is no machinery involved which makes it stand-out.

December 26’ 2004 – Tsunami struck along many coasts of Asia. Little did others know it had also struck the lives of nearly 300 villagers of Jamilabadh. FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) boats were preferred by fishermen as they were cheaper and be ready instant as they were in extreme need of their livelihood.

It is evident through stats that boat making sunk in the last decade and there was no really a remedial measure taken to stabilize this traditional art.

Craftsman involved in making boat

Major reasons cited by the villagers for the decline of their business were low cost, durable and easy maneuvering capabilities of FRP are which cannot be matched by traditional boats. Once, a busy hamlet which produced 340 boats in a span of 5 years are making boats only once in a while, rest of the days pass in just repairing old boats as maintenance. Boat makers say that even this repair works will stop within 3-4 years at the most. 

When i was returning from the village something stuck me

Why didn't the foreign fund providers did not think about Traditional boats while distributing new FRP boats?

Why didn't the fishermen didn't think of their routes?

Why didn't the Boat-makers improve their standard to survive in the competition?

One freak like me who went to the village for a write-up couldn't answer these questions.

"I do not want my children to learn the art of boat-making" said Noorudin."My sons are pursuing Professional degrees and they don't know how to make traditional boats" proclaimed Shahul hameedh. They are not just those who hate boat-making in fact they were 3rd generation boat-makers. To say such things or even feel about their traditional art is heart-breaking but do make us realize that sometimes LIFE HAS TO MOVE ON even if it hurts you so deep.