‘Stapled’ boatbuilding tradition of Bengal: a case study on chhot boat
Dublin Core
Title
‘Stapled’ boatbuilding tradition of Bengal: a case study on chhot boat
Description
We have documented a boat-building procedure that is unique in Bengal (India). The typological name of the
boat is chhot. A smooth-skinned, rabbeted, and stapled boat of Bengal with a 'v'-shaped cross section and
prominent keel. The project took place in Dihimondalghat of Haora district on the bank of river Rupnarayan.
Digitization of the entire process of boat building was undertaken on this EMKP, UK project. Panchanan
Mandal and his four sons created a full-scale boat measuring 35 feet in length and 9.5 feet in the cross beam.
Documentation of chhot is important as the boat type is no longer used on the river. The crafting skill of chhot
boat building will disappear shortly. It is the first project on the digitization of a boat in India. The presentation
is through still photography and videography along with narratives.
boat is chhot. A smooth-skinned, rabbeted, and stapled boat of Bengal with a 'v'-shaped cross section and
prominent keel. The project took place in Dihimondalghat of Haora district on the bank of river Rupnarayan.
Digitization of the entire process of boat building was undertaken on this EMKP, UK project. Panchanan
Mandal and his four sons created a full-scale boat measuring 35 feet in length and 9.5 feet in the cross beam.
Documentation of chhot is important as the boat type is no longer used on the river. The crafting skill of chhot
boat building will disappear shortly. It is the first project on the digitization of a boat in India. The presentation
is through still photography and videography along with narratives.
Creator
Swarup Bhattacharyya
John P Cooper
Zeeshan A Shaikh
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Bhattacharyya, Swarup , John P Cooper and Zeeshan A Shaikh. 2023. “ ‘Stapled’ boatbuilding tradition of Bengal: a case study on chhot boat.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Arjun Rao. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/2023
Files
Citation
Swarup Bhattacharyya, John P Cooper, and Zeeshan A Shaikh, “‘Stapled’ boatbuilding tradition of Bengal: a case study on chhot boat,” Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings, accessed October 12, 2026, https://apconf.omeka.net/items/show/2023.