The Dhows of Beypore - Uru:
The name Uru is associated with the traditional ship
building culture of Kerala. And the art and science of making these ships came
from the Arab world, some several centuries ago. The Arabs called them Dhows
and they eventually became the traditional Arabian trading vessels. Centuries
ago, Arab traders traced their way to the spice-scented shores of Kerala. And
after coming to know about the availability of good timber in the forests of
Kerala and also the presence of skilled crafts persons in ship building, the
Arab merchants began to place orders for constructing dhows to the crafts
persons of Malabar in north Kerala.
Located at the mouth
of the Chaliyar River Western Asia for ships, because of its fame as the home
to excellent crafts persons. This shipbuilding industry at Beypore once had a
healthy phase of growth until the invasion of iron and steel, posing a serious
threat to its existence.
The Baraami’s were the ship builders in
Beypore. Local teak wood was used for manufacturing the dhows. These Baramis
can be traced to the Al Mukalla tribe in Egypt
Beypore was where the great
Urus and the tough Dhows were built. They were the mainstay of the spice trade
between the sea coasts of Malabar & Arabia. Here was where master craftsmen
(Maistry) or the carpenter breed called Khalasis crafted these wonderful ships
with the aid of no modern tools like charts or instruments, but from memory
& mental calculations. The old ships were crafted from Malabar teak but
sadly now import a variety similar to Irul, from Malaysia Chaliyar River
It was from these Malabar
shores that the first migrants to the Gulf launched themselves on a long
lasting exodus, when young men desperate for jobs smuggled themselves out of
the country in long country boats called uru’s which took cargo to the Gulf
ports.
The Beypore area is today
home to the Mappila khalasis, famous for their expertise in lifting heavy
weights. Till today, when machines and bulldozers fail, the khalasi teams are
called on. Using little more than a wooden pole used as a dower or winch and
leveraged by hawsers and pulleys, they move and lift huge masses. The Mappila
khalasis were traditionally employed in launching the 400 tonne Arab dhows built
at the Beypore docks but now are masters in hauling heavy wrecks.
An exciting fact about the
shipbuilding industry in Beypore is the way in which the craft are built and
the variety which can be found. The flat bottomed zambuk (Sambuk), the majestic breek
(both Indian and Arabian designs), the boom which boasts of an enormous cargo
carrying capacity, and the bahala with its beautiful and intricate carvings and
arches, are all made using traditional tools and techniques. Even more
incredible is the number of people dependent on this industry. More than 500
families are directly and indirectly dependent on the shipbuilding industry.
Special methods used from historic times were the use of wooden dowels instead
of nails, use of coir rope and tar to seal joints etc.…Duarte Barbosa first recorded (around 1500 AD)
manufacture of keeled ships boats carrying 1200 bahares burden (some 400
tonnes) in Beypore. He also noted that they had no decks. They were classic
sewn boats of teak wood (both of which were at that time only available in
Malabar – in this context). The caulking was done with shavings off the palm
trees and the ships were coated with shark oil or castor oil for waterproofing.
It was the previously
described people from Oman , Hadhramaut, Yemen
& Gulf – Iran Kuwait
and Qatar
A remarkable feature of the
technology of Uru making is that, there are no documents, work plans, technical
data sheets or drawings right from the concept stage to completion. The
construction details are assigned on a day to day basis to the assistants and
carpenters by the master carpenter or Maistry. No electrical tools or heavy
machines are used. The basic tools are the indigenous carpentry tools. All
heavy lifting is done using elaborate pulley systems. Another amazing feature
is the pre calculated water line marked around the hull, will be precisely on the water-level while
the boat is launched. The master craftsmen of khalasis apparently use certain Shlokas (or are they Arabic verses?) as their guide to ship
building. Even today, the formula of dhow making remains a closely guarded
secret that is handed over from generations to generation. Today, only as few
as four master craftsmen are left behind.
Today Beypore dhows used for
tourism purposes Dubai
Various types of ships were
built in Beypore. Some of them were: Boumb , Padavu , Bireek , Kottiya ,
Sambook , Bahla & Pathemar . The Beypore ships were usually around 300
tonnes and sometimes 600 tones. Today’s manufacturing methods are slightly
different – Nails are used. The ‘Keel’ is the first part of a
dhow to be made. The second phase of work is concentrated on the second layer
of the dhow from the bottom called ‘ganel’. Iron and copper nails are used to
hold the wood together. Filling the gaps using quality cotton is the next
tiring phase of work. It is a very time consuming process that has to be done
with absolute care. Making of ‘chukkan’ is the third part of the construction.
The ‘Chukkan’ begins from the keel itself and its height would be the actual
height of the dhow. ‘Chukkan’ provides the total control of the vessel. Then
the inside part of the dhow ‘deck’ and, finally ‘aruthi’ is made. The manufacturing
process is completed with the tying up of the sail ‘mat’ (paya) to the mast
(chamaram).
The launching of a ship is a
festive ceremony, attended by a large number of people. First, a prayer is said
by the Qazi. When a Dhow was ready for launch wooden planks were kept up to
appropriate height. The logs of the Puvathi tree serve as rollers are put on
either side. Over these roller beams (Balus) strong enough to support the ship
are kept. The gap between the beams and ship are filled tight with ropes. Then
the ship is allowed to slowly move over the rollers with the help of rope and
pulleys. In water they dip exactly up to the water mark earlier drawn by the
Baramy. After the successful launch, a feast is laid out for all who have
contributed to the ship building effort.
There is a light house too, at Chaliyar, just near Beypore.
