Mukkuva is a traditional fishing community located on the west coast of India, and mainly spread in Trivandrum, Kollam and Kanyakumari districts. The Mukkuva fisher community’s language has the potential of revealing rich marine and coastal ecological and biodiversity data. During my research work with fishers, I have been documenting some of these words, especially those words that connect with the state of the ocean and the understanding about the climate of fishers. We also need to know these words, while communicating weather forecasting with fishers and to get feedback on the ocean state from fishers.
The waves have many shapes and forms as described by fishermen. They are classified according to their source to various definite directions as melaakkadal (from the western/northern side), keelaakkadal (from the western/northern side), nerukadal (from straight ahead), ottamedu (single wave), irattamedu or iranamedu (double waves). During melaakkadal, there is a phenomenon called kadalvaayneettam-giving more space to the shore. The fishermen say that winds or wind movements commonly cause the waves. Sometimes waves are also caused by the gravitation pull of the moon and the sun; they are called tides (high tides and low tides- veliyettam, and veliyirakkam). The monsoon waves are rough and they can be extremely dangerous. Their description sounds like the constant restless motion of sea water. This knowledge is very important to assess the threats and risks for fishing and ocean voyages. Fishers said that if the wind and waves are from different directions then there will be high swells which makes it difficult for the boat to sail.
Melaakkadal
Ⓒ Friends of Marine Life
Keelaakkadal
Ⓒ Friends of Marine Life
Nerukadal
Ⓒ Robert Pani Pilla
1. Panipilla R. Eyes on their Fingertips. Chennai: International Collectives in Support of Fisher workers (ICSF) 2015.
