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RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON
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SUBMITTED BY
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SIBMITTED TO:
PROF. SHIRLEY PILLAIc

ST. ANDREWS COLLEGE OF ARTS, COMMERCE,

SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENTc
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The Kolis-fisherfolk ±of Mumbai are a distinct community. In Their dress, their
language, their food and their lifestyle they are easily distinguishable. Especially
the economically independent Koli women who are aggressive to the point of
being quarrelsome.

The men generally wear a •
 (a loin cloth). It is a square piece of cloth,
thrown diagonally in front on a string tied round the waist. The lower end of the
cloth is tightly drawn through the legs and knotted at the back so as to cover the
divided of the buttocks. A waist-coat and close fitting cap complete the attire.
When not at sea the modern Koli wears a pair of pants and shirts.

Fond of jewellery, even their men wear armlets, bangles and earnings. The women don¶t
believe in bank accounts and invest almost all their savings in gold. They wear traditional
chunky typically Koli jewellery like the earnings patterned like the Pisces symbol (fish
swimming in opposite directions) worn by almost all of them.

The Kolin¶s entire position in society, her freedom of speech and action it a
result of her economic power and independence arising from her 
 (her daily
earnings). Dealing, as she has to, with all sorts of customers at the ÿ
or
during her door to door sales, she learns to quickly shed all coyness and freely
interact with the men. She provides tremendous economic stability to the family
and hence will not tolerate a bullying or wayward husband. Her financial position
makes her more than welcome with her parents.

In return for her economic power she pays rather heavily by way of hard work. Her day
begins at the break of dawn. After cooking for the family she takes off to the wharf to
buy her fish and returns home only after the heavy load on her head is sold. At home,
innumerous chores like mending fishing nets, fish baskets and drying to fish await her
attention.

Otherwise the Kolis live a very simple life. The ordinary Koli meal consists of curry
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, rice, and fried fish. When at sea the men eat dried fish and rice gruel. They
make a lot of sweet dishes at the Koli women are extremely fond of them.

The name Mumbai is derived from the goddess, µMumba¶, the patron deity of the pre-
Christian Kolis, the earliest inhabitants of the island. In the present day the shrine of
Mumbadevi, situated at the south-west corner of the Mumbadevi tank in the very heart of
the city is accorded more reverence than perhaps any other shrine.
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©c Prohibiting fishing during the monsoon period these trawlers often violate
prohibitory orders and carry on fishing, destroying the eggs.
©c These heavy trawlers are only given license to fish in deep sea, but when the catch
becomes scarce they encroach on our shallower territories, depriving poor
fishermen of their share.
©c The government recently announced a $15bn package to the agricultural industry
in response to a spate of suicides by farmers who were not able to pay off their
bank loans. Fishermen situation is no different from that of the farmers.
©c It seems that the authorities are hand in glove with the trawler owners, and their
complaints are falling on deaf ears.

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©c Fishermen situation is no different from farmers.

©c The young generation are unemployed because running losses in the fishing
business0c
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©c To earn profit to satisfy their other needs
©c Follow the rules and regulation implied by the government
©c To examine the socio-economic conditions of fishermen as well as to work
out the economics of fish capture

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©c Primary data: Survey and websites

©c Secondary data: Newspaper articles and websites

   

©c Explanatory research and descriptive research



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MALE FEMALE TOTAL

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100

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©c Introduction to Fishing industry.

©c Lifestyle of fishermen
©c Turnover in the fishing industry
©c ole of government
©c Socio ± economic development of fishermen
©c Analysis and interpretation
©c Findings and conclusion
©c "ibliography
©c Annexure