Environment livelihood patterns and social change the case of coastal malabar 1800 1990

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the socio-cultural history of traditional fishermen and coastal people of Kerala. The period of the study is AD 1800-1990. Fishing was an important occupation during the ancient period. The research on fishing in India began in the early AD 1800. During this same period, Malabar transitioned from the Bombay presidency to become part of the Madras presidency. The Madras presidency has established numerous departments for administrative ease, each focusing on distinct areas. Some of such departments are the Marine Department and Fisheries Department. According to reports and figures published by the Madras fisheries department, it can be understood that the fishing sector yields substantial income for the government. During the colonial and postindependence periods, the fishing sector underwent various stages of mechanisation. The government was forced to enforce certain limitations on the fishing sector during 1989 to 1990 due to the mechanisation implemented in the fishing industry. The research aims to find out the changes in the coastal environment of Malabar and the changes in the lifestyles of the coastal people involved in the period of 1800-1990. The introduction outlines the objectives, research questions, methodology, review of literature and chapterization. The first chapter, entitled “History and Culture of the Kerala Coast”, recorded important features of the coastal environment and the formation of coastal settlements. The second chapter, "Fishing Villages in South Malabar," discusses the different fishing villages of South Malabar, especially Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. The third chapter, “Fishing Communities of the Malabar Coast”, studied the customs and ritual practices of the different religions of the Malabar coast, like Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. The fourth chapter, “Traditional Knowledge of Coastal Peoples in Malabar”, explores the traditional knowledge of coastal peoples, and songs of the coastal areas that have been transmitted orally are also included in this chapter. The final chapter, "Modernisation and Transformation of the Malabar Coast," documents the impacts of modernity on the coastal environment and its inhabitants. The conclusion outlines the study's findings. While the fisheries sector generates substantial income for Kerala, the fishing community working behind it has become a marginalised group without any social or economic advancement. Similarly, the mechanisation in the fishing sector has allowed monopolists to enter the market, resulting in traditional fishermen losing access to their fishing grounds. The government plans several schemes with the aim of socially uplifting fishermen. However, the socio-economic status of fishermen can be improved only if the officials ensure that the said schemes are made available to the fishermen in a timely manner.