INTACH’s ‘A Morning by the River’ Recalls Gurupura’s Lost River Traditions
Mangaluru: The Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) organised a special boat-based programme, ‘A Morning by the River’, on Sunday, September 27, to mark World Rivers Day.
Held on the Gurupura River, the programme began at the Sultan Bathery ferry point and brought together nature lovers, artists and citizens to reflect on the river’s ecological, historical and cultural significance.
The programme also highlighted the gradual loss of traditional knowledge associated with the Gurupura River, including the seasonal formation of temporary islands that once supported the livelihoods of traditional fishermen.
Introducing the programme, INTACH Mangaluru Chapter Convener Subhas Chandra Basu said rivers were an important part of the region’s heritage.
“The Gurupura River was crucial to the development of Mangaluru from ancient times. Ports and forts were built along its banks, and water transport was an essential means of moving people and goods. Unfortunately, the city’s development today does not adequately take the river into consideration. It is becoming a dumping ground for the city’s waste,” he observed.
Social activist and environmentalist Yatish Baikampady said that in earlier times, the river was an important means of personal transport, with people from the Ghats travelling downstream by boat to visit coastal towns.
He also recalled a little-known phenomenon associated with the river during the monsoon. Natural debris carried by the river would accumulate at certain places, forming temporary islands locally known as ‘Palke’, he said.
“These temporary islands were a boon to traditional fishermen. Fish would breed around them, providing an important source of livelihood during the monsoon, when fishermen could not venture into the sea. Today, due to dams and other interventions, this system has disappeared. The younger generation does not even know that such a phenomenon existed. It is a form of traditional knowledge that we have lost,” he added.
Chartered accountant Giridhar Kamath recalled a time when the river was closely integrated into everyday life, with children swimming and bathing in its waters. He noted that the region had historically been blessed with abundant water and that rivers also served as natural barriers against forces coming from the sea.
“People here knew how to live with floods. But the floods we experience today are largely the result of human intervention,” he said.
Later, participants were invited to share their personal memories of rivers. The interaction brought forth recollections of boat journeys, swimming lessons and childhood experiences by the river. Participants also discussed the changes witnessed over the years and the need to protect the river and its ecosystem.
The one-and-a-half-hour boat journey offered participants an opportunity to observe the river and its banks while reflecting on the communities and landscapes connected to it.
The programme highlighted the importance of preserving not only the physical river but also the traditional knowledge, memories and ways of life that have evolved around it.
Yatish Baikampady, Giridhar Kamath and artist Kishore were felicitated during the programme.