Remarkable attempts by the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy to resurrect a 2000-year-old shipbuilding technology.
19 July 2023: The Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to resuscitate and maintain the 2000-year-old stitched shipbuilding method' of shipbuilding.
The MoU signing ceremony on July 18, 2023, was graced by the presence of distinguished individuals such as Shri Govind Mohan, Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Smt. Uma Nanduri, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Smt. Priyanka Chandra, Director (AKAM), Ministry of Culture; Rear Admiral Shri K.S. Srinivas; and Commodore Shri Sujeet Bakshi, Commander Shri Sandeep Roy from the Indian Navy.
The Indian Navy will oversee the project's implementation and execution. The Indian Navy's cooperation assures flawless project management and adherence to the highest standards of safety and precision as stewards of maritime security and specialists in the sector. Their tremendous experience and technical knowledge will be critical to the successful restoration of the traditional stitching technology and the building of the stitched ship.
Given its historical significance and the preservation of traditional workmanship, the stitched ship has tremendous cultural value in India. India has a long nautical history, and embroidered ships have played an important role in trade, cultural exchange, and exploration. These ships, built by stitching together wooden planks rather than nails, provided flexibility and durability, making them less vulnerable to damage from shoals and sandbars. Despite the entrance of European ships, the practice of stitching ships has survived in a few coastal districts of India, primarily for small local fishing boats.
It is critical to resurrect and revitalise this vanishing art form in order to secure the preservation of its cultural legacy for future generations. The ambition to build an ocean-going wooden stitched sailship employing the old Indian craft of stitching is admirable. The project intends to capitalise on the skills of India's last traditional shipwrights and highlight their remarkable craftsmanship. By sailing along ancient maritime channels using traditional navigating procedures, the study hopes to acquire insight into the historical contacts that permitted the spread of Indian culture, knowledge systems, traditions, technologies, and ideas across the Indian Ocean.
The importance of the interwoven ship project goes beyond its physical structure. It aspires to rekindle marine memories and foster pride in India's rich maritime legacy in its population. It also seeks to promote cultural memories among Indian Ocean littoral countries. A thorough project documenting and cataloging will guarantee that useful information is saved for future reference. This project is not just a one-of-a-kind boat-building endeavor, but it also honors India's vast cultural heritage and historic seafaring traditions.
