Review On Indigenous crafts in Boat Building of Indian Sundarbans

Abstract: The geographical environment of the lower Gangetic delta played an important role in determining the livelihood of the marginal people. So, the people of that region mastered various arts and crafts over generation to form a social entity. Among the indigenous boat building became very necessary. Due to the abundance of waterways over land in Sundarbans, which has a vast expanse of water, and depending on the technical needs and suggestions of watercraft in terms of means of transportation, transportation of goods, shing, its transportation and preservation, naval craftsmen used to build different types of boats, small and large, according to their needs. However, there were environmental and tribal differences in the process of boat building. However, rafts made of banana trees and boats made of wood were widely used in riverine waters since ancient times. 'Rabbeting' and 'caulking' methods were particularly used in the construction of shing boats. However, due to the lack of discussion on important technical issues in indigenous boat building, the main objective of the present article is to shed light on the undisputed issue.