Beypore Uru

Beypore Uru

#GS-03 Technology

For Prelims

Beypore Uru

  • Beypore is a historic port town on the banks of the Chaliyar River and is part of the present-day Kozhikode district in Kerala.
  • The name Uru is associated with the 1500 years old traditional ship building culture of Kerala.
  • An Uru is a wooden dhow and is mainly made of Malabar teak and it can even be considered biggest handicraft in the world.
  • This type of boat has been used by the Arabs since ancient times mostly as trading vessels and rarely as a passenger
  • Even now, urus are being manufactured and exported to Arab nations from Beypore.
  • It takes a team of fifty men one to four years to build each Uru and the entire process is done
  • The Khalasis are the traditional artisans responsible for the manufacture of the Uru.
  • Most of these artisans involved in Uru-making are over 50-70 years old and have been in the profession for generations and have gained the knowledge from their father.
  • The Beypore Urus are seen as a symbol of Kerala’s trade relations and friendship with the Gulf countries.

Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

  • Geographical Indication (GI) is an internationally recognised identification method used to identify goods having special characteristics originating from a definite geographical
  • It is governed and directed by the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
  • In order to be recognised as a GI tag, there must be a method of recognising a product as originating in a given place.
  • The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 provides for the registration and protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
  • The GI tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.
  • This provides the product with legal protection and prevention against unauthorised use by others.
  • GI tag aids in promoting the exports of the product.

Source “Geographical Indication tag sought for Kerala’s legendary Beypore Uru