GEOMETRICAL CONCEPTS IN TRADITIONAL FISHING PRACTICES: AN ETHNO-MATHEMATICAL INSIGHT

Abstract

This review article aims to investigate the applicability of mathematical concepts in traditional fishing practices, with an insight into geometrical shapes embedded in fishing instruments through the lens of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS). Ubiratan D’Ambrosio, the father of ethnomathematics, emphasizes the cultural aspect of mathematical knowledge. This descriptive review article uncovers how traditional communities intuitively apply complex mathematical ideas like the isoperimetric inequality and geometric optimization by analysing the various fishing tools such as nets and traps. For instance, the circular design of cast nets demonstrates an understanding of maximizing area with a fixed perimeter. Similarly, other geometrical shapes like a cone, cylinder, and a rectangle can also be identified in various fishing instruments. This evidence indicates how various sophisticated mathematical concepts are embedded in traditional fishing activities, and we are using these concepts without having any formal theoretical knowledge. This study bridges the gap between culture and mathematics. As advocated by NEP-2020, this type of culturally based mathematics will profoundly impact the teaching and learning process.