Kerala craftsmen honoured for preserving traditional timber-sawing craft

Moideenkutty and Mohammedkutty, master craftsmen from Malappuram district in Kerala, have been felicitated for their enduring contributions to timber sawing—a time-honoured trade that is rapidly fading from the region's cultural landscape. The honour reflects growing concern about the loss of traditional handicrafts and artisanal skills in Kerala as industrialisation and modernisation reshape economic practices.

Timbered sawing, which historically played a vital role in Kerala's construction and woodworking industries, has seen sharp decline in recent decades as mechanized alternatives have displaced manual labour. The recognition of Moideenkutty and Mohammedkutty underscores the cultural and historical significance of their craft, which required extensive apprenticeship and specialized knowledge passed down through generations.

Puchangal Abubacker, a heritage conservator, was also honoured for his efforts to document and preserve the traditional long saw and related techniques associated with the craft. Abubacker's work has been instrumental in ensuring that knowledge about the tools, methods, and cultural contexts of timber sawing does not disappear entirely. His efforts highlight the broader challenge of heritage preservation in India, where numerous traditional trades face extinction as younger generations pursue alternative livelihoods.

The recognition of these craftsmen and conservators reflects Kerala's commitment to documenting and celebrating its vanishing traditions, even as structural economic changes continue to erode their practical viability in contemporary society.