An online exhibition on the Indian coastal communities

Indira Gandhi Rashtirya Manav Sangrahalaya

(IGRMS) has a wonder full treasure of housing patterns in its open air exhibitions providing insight to understand life and culture of various Indian communities living in different geo-climatic zones. The Coastal Village is one such exhibition enabling visitors to understand the socio-cultural life of Indian coastal communities.Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) launched new series to display online the exhibits with the aim of digitally connecting everyone with them due to lock-down during the current COVID-19 epidemic. Under this series, today “ Naalkettu of kerala”- a traditional house type from Kerala, Exhibition of IGRMS has been presented online with its basic information and photographs and videos.

Dr. Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that the main objective of this series is to highlight the aesthetic features of traditional lifestyles, local knowledge, and culture’s continuing relevance with modern society. Rakesh Bhatt, the officer in charge of the exhibition area told that Joint family system has been a significant feature of India's social structure and it’s best examples are visible amongst the rural communities. In this episode, an attempt will be made to understand such a distinct social system through a house type in this exhibition.

Naalukettu is basically a pattern of housing structure which were constructed during the 15th-18th century for two major communities Nambuthiri Brahmins and Nair warriors of Kerala. TheseNaalukettu were owned by the matrilineal joint family and the property used to be inherited from mother to daughter & granddaughter. The present exhibit installed at IGRMS was also owned by the members of a joint family of more than ten generations since the 18th century. Traditionally, theNaalukettu of the Brahmins or Nambudiri was known as Illams or Manas, whereas that of the Nayar’s were known as Tarawads.