Bamboo Craftsmanship Of The Muthuvans of Kerala
An Ingenious Response To Location And Materiality
- Tim Ingold, Making, Pg xi
The Muthuvans: Living In Harmony With Nature
It took modern architects decades to figure out that bamboo might just be the perfect natural building material, gifting it the nickname ‘green steel’. The Muthuvans of South India figured it out centuries back.
The Muthuvan tribal communities are found mainly in the hill forests of Western Ghats, bordering Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is believed that they are the descendants of a group of people who followed Kannaki, a legendary character from a Tamil epic, worshiped as a goddess in certain regions. The origin of the name muthuvans comes from the word ‘muthuku’, meaning ‘back’ in Malayalam[1] , as they are said to have carried the Goddess Kannaki on their backs. Living in harmony with nature and co-existing effortlessly with animals, the Muthuvans have a deep connection to the forests they inhabit. They firmly believe that the forest provides them with everything they need, and the reverently protect it. Weary of outsiders, their way of life has evolved around the materials available in their natural surroundings.
The Muthuvans' understanding of their surroundings and their resourcefulness is evident in their use of bamboo as a building material. Eetta, also called Indian reed bamboo or elephant bamboo, is a species of bamboo endemic to the Western Ghats. Of the 36 tribes of Kerala, the Muthuvans are some of the craftsmen who excel in the use of the indigenous bamboo. Drawing from Tim Ingold's concept of craftsmen as those who "think through making", they practice the “art of inquiry”[2]. Their architecture evolved by understanding the fluxes and flows of the material available, in contrast to modern architects who “does his thinking in his head, and only then applies the forms of thought to the substance of the material world.”
Eetta: The Versatile Building Material
The thin, tall, shrubby reeds grows in bunches and possess large mass of foliage. With comparatively thinner walls (than other bamboos), and thickly clumped culms, eeta is commonly used for various traditional crafts like basket weaving and paper making. The Muthuvans are one of the few who use it extensively for construction, possibly due to easy availability and light-weight. Almost everything they need – ranging from houses (maadam) to hoses, bridges to bird catchers, windshields to workshops (aala) and special residences for women (eetillam), and even the ladders for making them – are constructed using eetta. Structural members, walls, door, partitions, roof coverings, and even connecting members are made using this versatile material.
Building materials used in construction are not only influenced by location, but also by specific needs and challenges faced by these communities. Eetta is not the only thing found in abundance in the Western Ghats; it is also home to a large number of wild elephants. Recognising elephants' behavior of walking slower downhill and faster uphill, the Muthuvans carefully select the location for constructing their houses (maadam). These housing units are typically built at mid-altitudes on high platforms, on inaccessible terrains with climbing aids, or on higher altitudes with windshields. The Muthuvan huts are made of reeds and thatched with its leaves. Some house walls are paneled with wooden branches and mud applied on it. A typical maadam comprises three or four separations; one for cooking, one for sleeping and the other for common uses. Some maadams are accompanied by eettillams and aalas.
1.a. View of a typical maadam (house).
1.b. Plan of a typical maadam showing three internal separations: one for cooking, one for sleeping and the other for common uses
2.a. Interior of a typical maadam, showing an internal loft added for storage.
2.b. Exploded perspective of a typical maadam with details of building materials used.
Water carriage systems, made using split sections of bamboo, direct water from higher streams to areas of inhabitation for personal use. Sometimes, simple or hanging bridges are also constructed for connectivity over short spans, using horizontally arranged bamboo shoots with smaller cross pieces anchored to rocks and supported by inclined bamboo members.
As agriculture is the primary occupation of the Muthuvans, safeguarding their crops from elephants and other wild animals becomes a major concern. The treehouse (aerumadam) is a particularly interesting construction, built specifically for this purpose. The Muthuvans employ pattakottu – producing low frequency sound by hitting on tins – and lighting fires inside the aerumadam to scare off elephants. Factors such as location, tree structure, and topography are carefully considered during the installation of these treehouses, ensuring their effectiveness in protecting the crops.
Building With Bamboo: An Art of Inquiry [3]
One of the key challenges of building with bamboo is connecting the poles. With no specific joineries and systems to use, many modern builders find it difficult to work with bamboo. Thus among the Muthuvans' construction techniques, the maadamkettu forms the crux of the traditional bamboo craft. Maadamkettu is the unique technique of tying the joints – a simple method employing the strands of a fresh bamboo shoot itself for binding. The shoot is cut to required length for tying of the joint and then split through the center using a vakkatti, an indigenous knife. The split pieces are further divided into thin sticks lengthwise, and the inner core is peeled off in strands. These strands are then formed into loops around the desired joint, with the ends twisted together and folded back to strengthen the joint. Due to strain energy, the loops remain intact and grow stronger over time as they dry. The maadamkettu adds to the ingenuity of the eetta construction.
3.a. The shoot is cut to required length for typing of the joint.
3.b. The split pieces are further divided into thin sticks lengthwise, and the inner core is peeled off in strands.
3.c. These strands are then formed into loops around the desired joint, with the ends twisted together and folded back to strengthen the joint.
The first step in any sort of construction is the selection and processing of eetta. Bamboo presents certain limitations due to its natural tendency to bend and its tapering sections. Especially for making maadams, selecting eetta with relatively straight sections throughout its length is paramount for its stability. The outer-most layer, comprising largely of foliage, is peeled off from the carefully selectected eetta. The bamboo is usually used with minimum processing after sun-drying. They are cut into desired length, tied in a bunch, and carried onto the site.
To construct a maadam, columns of bamboo are first inserted in the soil to a depth of 30cm. The floor is prepared within this bounds using mud and plinth is secured using the trunk of a Kaung tree (a type of palm). The framework for the roof is then built, and the rafters are laid out. All the joints are made using maadamketutu. Water-tight roof coverings made of half cut poles. Pressed and dried bamboo leaves are used as roof and wall coverings, providing natural protection and insulation. An internal loft is added for storage. It typically takes 2-3 days to complete the construction of a maadam.
When making an aerumaadam, a tree with inverted tripod branching is selected on a suitable site so that the columns can be raised on it. Laying of the bamboo ladder using maadamkettu is the next process, to facilitate access to the treehouse. The height of the aerumaadam, usually around 5 meters off the ground, is determined based on the eye-level of elephants. After laying the columns (central higher), main beams are laid out with additional rafters at 50cm intervals. Dried bamboo leaves are laid onto the roof, walls and floor. Approximately 30 bamboos are required for making a typical aerumaadam of 2.5x2.5m.
5.b. When making an aerumaadam, a tree with inverted tripod branching is selected so that the columns can be raised on it.
The Muthuvans' mastery of selecting and processing eetta, along with their ingenious construction techniques, exemplifies the successful utilisation of bamboo as a building material. While other forms of timber are available in the forest, circular hollow sections makes eetta light-weight and easy to handle, transport and store. The presence of transverse walls at the nodes gives bamboo high strength, enabling it to traverse longer spans. This combined with flexibility gives it earthquake resistance. Joints can be made easily (with transverse and longitudinal cuts) making it easy to build with, using basic hand tools like knives and grub hoe. Its versatility adds to the advantage that the single material can be used to construct structural members, partitions and coverings, and is adaptable to the varied landscape of the forest. Community participation in construction also improves civic bonds, reduce cost and result in a sustainable design. These highlight how building materials play a crucial role in the construction of human settlements.
Challenges And Transformations: The Impact On Muthuvan Architecture
However, despite its advantages, the Muthuvans' construction practices are undergoing a significant transformation due to the durability concerns of eetta, the influence of external factors, and the need for alternative materials. The absence of treatment processes leaves the eetta susceptible to degradation over time. As a result, the maadams and aerumaadams require reconstruction every 3 to 4 years to maintain their stability and functionality.
With increasing outside influence and encroachments on their traditional lands, the availability of eetta is dwindling, leading the Muthuvans to explore alternative construction materials like Kaung and concrete. These materials offer enhanced durability, but come with their own implications, such as potential environmental concerns and a departure from traditional construction methods.
The evolving construction practices have not only affected the physical structures but have also had a socio-economic impact on the Muthuvan community. Men, in search of better livelihood opportunities, have started migrating to nearby towns and tea-estates for work. This trend represents a shift away from their traditional occupation of agriculture, as external influences shape their lifestyle and economic choices.
Striking A Balance: Modernisation And Cultural Heritage
The Muthuvans' innovative use of eetta, skillful construction techniques, and their slow retreat from it, demonstrate how building materials are chosen based on their suitability for specific locations, their durability in the face of environmental challenges, and their adaptability to fulfill particular needs. As the Muthuvans adapt to changing circumstances, it becomes important to support and safeguard this cultural knowledge. Despite its natural limitations, bamboo proves to be a sustainable and reliable resource when harnessed appropriately. Initiatives that promote sustainable bamboo cultivation and implementing treatment processes can help extend the lifespan of bamboo structures, discouraging the shift to concrete in sensitive areas.
The unique understanding of eetta by the Muthuvans holds potential for uses in contemporary design as well. Eetta, with its inherent advantages such as light-weight, earthquake resistance, and simple joinery, may be used to make easily assemblable and collapsible structures, especially valuable in emergency situations like disaster rehabilitation. The technique of maadamkettu can be utilised for temporary structures, fostering reusability and resourcefulness. By integrating modern architectural knowledge with such indigenous wisdom, communities can pave the way towards resilient, culturally rich, and sustainable architectural practices.
[1] The native language of Kerala, a South Indian state.
[2] Tim Ingold, Making: Anthropology, Archaeology, Art and Architecture (New York: Routledge, 2013), Pg 6.
[3] Based on the study and documentation of Muthuvan architecture carried out by the Batch of 2012-2017 from the College of Engineering Trivandrum, in which the author actively participated.
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