Written by Rhea Joseph
Situated on the northern coast of Kerala, steeped in historical past and tradition, is the one museum within the state devoted to Uru.
The Uru or Dho is a standard crusing vessel that traces its origins to India’s maritime commerce with Mesopotamia. Inscribed within the hallmark of the coastal metropolis of Kozhikode (then Calicut), the centuries-old craft now has its personal museum, privately managed by Haji PI Ahmed Koya, a shipbuilding firm based in 1885.
The firm’s fifth era partner-caretaker Hashim Po stated, “We have started this museum for our coming generation, who have built more than 150 ships till date.” In Kozhikode, the historical past (of Dho) is 1500 years. We maintain varied miniature fashions of Dho – Boom, Sambouk, Machhua, all of that are Arabic and Persian names, in addition to our outdated paperwork in Arabic, Malayalam, in addition to devices related to Dho. The ones we have now within the museum Whatever we put in is to offer info for generations to come back. They ought to know what we’re doing.”
The museum, additionally a tribute to Hashim’s grandfather and the corporate’s founder, Kamakantakatha Kunhammad Koya Haji, holds sentimental worth to the household. Speaking about a few of the artifacts displayed within the museum, which belong to the primary era of his household, Hashim stated, “For us, it is necessary. His tales are associated to our household. My grandfather’s paperwork and carry. We have challans from 80 years in the past and bookkeeping from the time of our grandfather in 1907.”
The museum, presently housed in his workplace, is due for a facelift. The modified museum is predicted to be modeled after the unique Haji PI Ahmed Koya workplace “Pandikashala” in-built 1885. In addition to crusing ships, the museum homes varied nautical devices and tools, together with compasses, binoculars and different navigational tools. The museum is maintained and maintained by the staff of the corporate.
Holding a wealth of details about India’s ever thriving maritime commerce, the museum attracts guests from far and huge. Students and researchers who come to check and study concerning the historical past of Dhow go to the museum repeatedly.
Considered to be one of many largest handicrafts on the planet, the urdu making trade is now largely began by the Qatari royal household for private use.
(Riya Joseph is a trainee with indianexpress.com based mostly in Thiruvananthapuram)
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
