Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

• A new agreement has been signed by Indian Navy with Ministry of culture to revive/rejuvenate 2,000-Year-Old Shipbuilding Technique and construction of the stitched ship.
• This technique is also known as Tankai' method or the "stitched shipbuilding method.

Other Details

• On July 18 the MoU was signed.
• The project implementation and execution will be overseen by Indian Navy.
• The navy will adhere to the highest standards of safety and precision, which will result into an effective, efficient and seamless project management.
• An ocean-going wooden stitched sail ship will be constructed using this ancient Indian art of Tankai.

Significance

• The art holds significant cultural value and is slowly fading.
• For preservation of cultural heritage and knowledge for future generations.
• It has historical importance and the centuries old traditional craftsmanship regarding India’s ancient seafaring traditions needs to be preserved.
• It will showcase the exceptional craftsmanship of traditional shipwrights.
• It is aimed to understand the interaction of ancient India with other part of the world in terms of trade, cultural, knowledge, technology exchanges.
• This agreement is aimed to glorify and revive the ancient maritime memory.
• A sense of pride is supposed to be instilled in India's rich maritime heritage.
• It will also seek to strengthen relationships with littoral countries of Indian Ocean by promoting cultural memories.

Stitched ship

• The stitched ship is made by stitching wooden planks
• These ships are more durable as nails are not used.
• Also these ships are caused less damage due to shoals and sandbars.
• From thousands of years they contributed to trade, cultural exchange, and exploration.

Why it faded?

• Arrival of European ships in India changed the techniques of shipbuilding.
• Traditional arts were discouraged by Europeans, particularly british, in General.
• Availability of more sophisticated techniques of shipbuilding.
• Neglect of Indian government towards Tankai.
• However this art is still practiced in a few coastal regions of India, mainly for small local fishing boats.

Must Read Article:

National Maritime heritage complex

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/national-maritime-heritage-complex

Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/indian-ocean-region

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1940808

Download PDF