Between the sea and trajectories of life a study of the fisher folk of central Kerala in the twentieth century

Abstract

Fishing community of Kerala has a vital role in moulding the socio-cultural life of the society. The present study is focused on the fishing community of two Coastal Taluks of Central Kerala, i.e., Chavakkad and Kodungallur which in the colonial period spread into two territorial entities of Malabar and Cochin. The present study has academic, socio – economic and environmental relevance. The traditional fishing sector, their problems; its responses to colonial modernity, globalization, intrusion of technology and capital penetration in the proposed region are largely unexplored areas. Technological advancement in the fisheries sector and sustainable extraction of resources have a bearing on the marine eco-system. Above all, the coastal region and traditional fishermen are integral components of Kerala's societal fabric, rendering this issue historically significant and contemporarily relevant. This study explores how the lives of traditional fishing communities have been shaped by various factors in the twentieth century. It discusses how the social exclusion of the fishermen happened and how they were confine to the fringes of the coastal belt. The study focuses on the socio-economic status of the Vala, Araya and Mukkuva Communities of Central Kerala. The study also analyses the contribution made by women in the fishing community. Despite their active involvement, their role was considered as merely supportive and they were excluded from the mainstream. The role of patriarchy in socially barring women from possessing knowledge about the craft and craft equipment has been analysed. The Kalyanadayini Sabha established by Pandit K P Karuppan at Anapuzha for the Vala Community and the Kaipamangalam Fishermen Co-Operative Society established by Rao Bahadur Govindan get special attention in the study. This study examines the factors driving the transformation of the traditional fishing sector from community-owned to capital-intensive operations. The impact of Indo-Norwegian project in the fishery sector has been analyzed. It explores how mechanization posed a threat to the sustainable nature of fishing and other related problems faced by the artisanal fishing community