The original inhabitants of the islands lived in the forests on hunting and fishing. There are four Negrito tribes, viz., the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinalese in the Andaman group of islands and two Mongoloid Sentinalese are still hostile. They are still keeping a separate entity and have not yet learnt the concept of covering their bodies.
The modern history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands begins with the establishment of a settlement by East India Company in 1789. However, in 1796 this settlement was abandoned. Following the first war of Indian Independence in 1857, the British India Government founded the penal settlement in these islands in 1858, primarily known as Kalapani, for the deportation of freedom fighters from the mainland India, which continued till the second World War. During the Second World War, the Japanese forces occupied the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1942. Further following the surrender of the Japanese forces in the Second World War, the British India Government reoccupied these islands in 1945 and continued their administration till the Independence of the country in 1947.
"The history at Andaman and Nicobar Islandssuggests that Marco Polo was among the first travelers from the West to reach this conglomeration of Islands. Again, the Kanhoji Angre, a Maratha admiral, is said to have his base in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the early 18th century. The sovereignty of Kanhoji Angre ended when he was defeated by the British and Portuguese naval forces.
In 1789, the British established their colony in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But, the island was abandoned the British in 1796; yet, the British resumed control over the island in the 19th century. During the 19th century as theAndaman and Nicobar Islands historymaintains, the British used Andaman and Nicobar as a penal colony, which was named 'Kalapani' or the Cellular Jail. The history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands proves that criminals convicted of crime against the East India Company was sent to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with a life sentence: the convicts were forced to live in exile in the Kalapani.
But, with the end of the British rule, i. e. after the Indian Independence, the 'Kalapani' gave way to a conglomeration of beautiful islands. It was in 1947 that Andaman and Nicobar Islands formed a part of the India Union. Today, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is among the seven union territories of India.
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Islands have many attractions for adventure loving eco-tourism. There are 96 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The island is covered with dense forest and offers variety of exotic flora and fauna. The islands have 92% forest cover, 110 species of wild orchids, 120 species of fish 179 species of corals, 246 varieties of birds etc. Island water is suitable for adventure water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, skiing, game fishing etc. Trekking through dense ever green forest, birds watching and island camping in beach are other adventure activities of the client.
If you love the sight of wispy coconut palms swaying in the breeze… the feel of soft white sand under your bare feet… the flash of birds vivid against the blue sky … the games of the green shadows in the forest… the infinite variety of under water marine life… you enjoy it all when you are in Andamans & Nicobar Islands, also known as Emerald Islands for the breath taking color of the sea.
An Archipelago of 572 islands adrift in the Bay of Bengal, the union territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands stretches over an area of more than 800 sq. kms. Port Blair and its surroundings offer sightseeing possibilities that interest all. There is history, nature and beauty that will fascinate you.
A clear history of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands can be had only from the time of a British Survey of these islands conducted in 1777. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands remained the abode of indigenous people of Negrito and the Mongoloid stock respectively, who occupied the Islands for centuries. These islands remained secluded from the mainland till the end of the 18th Century when people from the outside world first arrived. The history of these islands could be divided into four broad periods.
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- the period of seclusion and piratical disturbances
- the British regime - a period of foreign intrusion and settlement
- the Japanese regime
- and the Post-Independence period.
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In the Second Century, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were located in the maps prepared by the great Greek astronomer, mathematician and geographer, Claudius Ptolemaeus, which possibly is the earliest reference to these islands. The early history of Nicobar is not well known although these islands were familiar to traders in ancient times, the islands being situated close to the trade route to the Far East. Though little is known about Portuguese activities in these islands, it is evident that the Portuguese missionaries started preaching Christianity among the islanders. The Nicobarese language also reflects a few Portuguese words.
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The British Regime
The history of the British in the Andaman and Nicobar islands began in 1788 when Lord Cornwallis, the then Governor General of India, thought of colonizing the islands and instructed Lt. Archibald Blair and Lt. R. H. Colebrook of the Royal Navy to Survey the islands and submit a report on their suitability for a British Colony. According to the recommendation of these two officers the first British settlement was founded in 1789 on Chatham Island , near Port Cornwallis (Now Port Blair). After the First War of Independence in 1857, the British Government thought of establishing a penal settlement here. In March 1858, the first penal settlement was established, with 200
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CELLULAR JAIL, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS
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| prisoners, mostly rebels from the Indian Army. Initially the convicts were kept in a jail at Viper island, which is about 15 minutes boat ride from Port Blair. The island had a jail gallows, Kutcheri, Doctor's residence, etc. |
Subsequently, this Jail was abandoned and the Cellular Jail at Port Blair was constructed. During the time of successive Superintendents, E. H. Man, General Steward, and Col. Cadell, the number of convicts increased and they were subjected to inhuman tortures at the hands of the British jailors. The foundation of the famous Cellular Jail was laid in 1896. The building was completed in 1906. Many changes, both in policy and practice, took place during Colonel Ferrar's time, which, inter alia, included concession to the convicts, mainland visit, etc.
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ROSS ISLAND, A & N ISLANDS |
The Japanese Regime
World War II brought another series of changes in the life of the Andamans. During the War, the Japanese occupied Andamans on March 21, 1942 and kept the region under their effective control till October 8,1945 . Initially the Japanese behaved cordially towards the locals, but became harsh and suspicious after instances came to their notice of some locals maintaining contacts with the British.
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As a result a large number of innocent people were killed. One such place where the massacre occurred is Humfreygunj. But one good result of the Japanese occupation was making the Andamans self-sufficient, at least in food production. The naval blockade created an acute food crisis and the Japanese compelled the local people to bring more land under cultivation. They also constructed roads. Netaji Subash Chandra Bose arrived in Port Blair on December 29, 1943 and was given a ceremonial welcome. He hoisted the National Flag at Port Blair on 30th Dec. 1943 for the first time during the British regime in India. On October 8, 1945, the Japanese
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surrendered to the South East Asia Command at Port Blair. The Government quickly restored normalcy in the area and started rehabilitation work.
The Post Independence Regime
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands together with the rest of India became Independent on August 15th, 1947. Bengalis are the major population group, which came to the Andamans after Independence. They came as 'settlers' under the Government rehabilitation scheme, which started as early as 1949 and continued, till the 1970s. All these groups migrated to the Andamans from different districts of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The Bengalis are primarily distributed in the different villages of North, Middle and South Andamans. The rehabilitated settlers of Great Nicobar are the Ex-servicemen. Ex-servicemen were rehabilated according to the rules of the District Soldier,
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PORT BLAIR (TODAY) |
Sailor, Airmen Board, formerly known as the Ex-servicemen Association and the Indian Ex-servicemen League. The first batch of Ex-servicemen came to the island in 1969. Others, from different parts of the mainland followed in 1970,1974,1977,1979 and 1980. These settlers include among others, Punjabis, Marathis, Malyalis and Tamilians. New rules and legislations were enacted and a Chief Commissioner directly nominated by the President of India heads the islands. On November 12, 1982, the post of Chief Commissioner was elevated to the rank of Lt. Governor. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands now sends one elected representative to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament.
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he Andaman and Nicobar islands have been inhabited for several thousand years, at the very least. The earliest archaeological evidence yet documented goes back some 2,200 years; however, the indications from genetic, cultural and linguistic isolation studies point to habitation going back 30,000 to 60,000 years, well into the Middle Paleolithic.
In the Andaman Islands, the various Andamanese people maintained their separated existence through the vast majority of this time,
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 ANDAMAN TRIBES
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diversifying into distinct linguistic, cultural and territorial groups. By the 1850s when they first came into sustained contact by outside groups, the indigenous people of the Andamans were:
- the Great Andamanese, who collectively represented at least 10 distinct sub-groups and languages;
- the Jarawa;
- the Jangil (or Rutland Jarawa);
- the Onge; and
- the Sentinelese (most isolated of all the groups).
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ANDAMAN TRIBES - THE JARAWAS |
In total, these people numbered somewhere around 7,000 at the time of these first encounters. As the numbers of settlers from the mainland increased (at first mostly prisoners and involuntary indentured labourers, later purposely recruited farmers), these indigenous people lost territory and numbers in the face of punitive expeditions by British troops, land encroachment and the effects of various epidemic diseases. The Jangil and most of the Great Andamanese groups soon became extinct; presently there remain only approximately 400–450 indigenous Andamanese, the Jarawa and Sentinelese in particular maintaining a steadfast independence and refusing most attempts at contact.
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- the Nicobarese, or Nicobari, living throughout many of the islands; and
- the Shompen, restricted to the hinterland of Great Nicobar."
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THE PEOPLE
The original tribal people who lived here are the great Andamanese, Jarawas, Sentinelese and Onges in the Andaman group and the Nicobarese and Shompens in the Nicobar group. Along with them, the present-day Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the homes of descendants of hundreds of prisoners from all part of India who constituted the penal settlement during the British Raj. They are the offspring's of the Moplas of Malabar deported during the Mopla Rebellion, the Kilafat movement and of refugees from the rest while east Pakistan who settled over thirty years ago with hope for a new life; or ex-servicemen of the Indian Army; of jobseekers and adventurers from every corner of India.
Settlers
In Andaman and Nicobar Islands more than 50 percent of the population is made up of settlers from the mainland India. That is why many describe Andamans as a Little India or a mini-India. Everyone speaks Hindi no matter which part of the mainland he comes from. The settlers or ancestors of these settlers came either prior to 1947 or after 1947.
In the course of seven or eight decades, till about the thirties, thousands of prisoners form north, south, east and west and central Indian regions were brought in. Many women came there as prisoners or as relations to liberated prisoners. Majority of prisoners after serving their term chose to stay on. There was a lot of social mixing without any inhabitation of traditional social restraints. There were inter-caste and inter-creed marriages. Thus a new social order and culture evolved, discarding the values of traditional society and culture of the mainland.
In the early twenties several hundred Moplas or Mappillas were deported following the Malabar revolt. Many of them later brought their families and relatives to settle down in the Andamans. Many villages in South Andamans are inhabited by them forming a big chunk of Malayalam speaking population there. In the case of Moplas their traditional life style has not changed much. They still maintain their separate identity.
Karens migrated in 1925 to work as forest Labourers. Later they settled down on agricultural land in Middle Andamans. At present some of them live in separate settlements doing fisherman's job and hunting in Maimyo and Herbertabad. Many Burmans in Maimyo and Burma after 1966. They too had come as convicts. The few who remain have preserved their distinct identity. The Karens are concentrated in webi, Base and Letaw.
Bhantus are a tribe which robbed people in North and Central India in the early 20th century. In 1926 a gang of them were sent to Andaman's from Indian Jails. They had volunteered for the migration. These people and their descendants now inhabit some villages in South Andaman's and are now leading a peaceful life as respectable citizens. Growth of such homogeneous communities in respective pockets were encouraged by the British administration. Special schools were run for their sake. These helped in their healthy rehabilitation and survival as such homogeneous group
After the partition of the country and Independence i.e. after 1947, the influx has been mainly of Bengalese-refugees from the East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Such Bengalese now form the largest single linguistic group in the territory. These Bengalese refugees are settled in villages in South, Middle, North and Little Andaman's .Most of them were landless Labourers and of low caste status. Now as landowners they are doing well. Each family has been given five acres of cleared land on plains for paddy cultivation and five acres more of un-cleared land for homestead and horticultural purposes together with ex-gratia grant of Rs.1050 to each family. The money was for house building, animals and the rest for seeds. They have brought the customs and folk culture of their original habitat. Other Moplas and Malayalis both Hindus and Christians also came after 1947 in search of office jobs. They are working in offices.
Some tribal people from Chota Nagpur Region have also migrated here in search of jobs. They are working in Forest, Public works Department, etc. In the past, during British regime people from Chota Nagpur Tribal belt were brought to work as forest Labourers. They are hardly and good workers and are in great demand. Their main settlement is at Baratang in Middle Andamans .
They originally had belonged to various places and groups like Oraon, Kharia, Munda, Mahli Turi Ghasi, Cheek and Dom etc. But in Andamans they are labeled as Ranchis as Ranchi was their recruiting centre. They are a heterogeneous group but the common factor of tribal life than strings them is their addiction to traditional Tribal drink called Handia.
The second largest linguistic group are the people settled from Tamil Nadu. They are elites from the mainland manning senior positions in Government offices, enterprises and tourist organizations etc. Various social, cultural and economic factors are at work to create co-existence of various ethnic groups in a composite culture.
Economy
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A total of 48,675 hecatres of land is used for agriculture purposes. Paddy, the main food crop, is mostly cultivated in Andaman group of islands, whereas coconut and arecanut are the cash crops of Nicobar group of islands. Field crops, namely, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables are grown, followed by paddy during Rabi season. Different kinds of fruits such as mango, sapota, orange, banana, papaya, pineapple and root crops are grown on hilly land owned by farmers. Spices, viz., pepper, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon are grown under multi-tier cropping system. Rubber, red oil, palm and cashew are grown on a limited scale in these islands.
There are 1,374 registered small scale, village and handicrafts units. Two units are export oriented in the line of fish processing activity. Apart from this, there are shell and wood based handicraft units. There are also four medium sized industrial units. SSI units are engaged in the production of polythene bags, PVC conduit pipes and fittings, paints and varnished, fibre glass and mini flour mills, soft drinks and beverages, etc. Small scale and handicraft units are also engaged in shell crafts, bakery products, rice milling, furniture making , etc. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation has spread its wings in the field of tourism, fisheries, industries and industrial financing and functions as authorised agents for Alliance Air/ et Airways.
SOME PIC OF ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR
INDIAN CULTURE
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population and problems. The dreaded 10o channel which is about 145 km wide and 400 fathoms deep, separates the two groups.
guration of the land clearly points to these islands being the visible ridges and summits of sunken ranges of mountains, Saddle Peak in North Andaman at a height of 732 metres above sea level is the highest point in these islands. There are no great elevations and the slopes are moderate to steep and rugged. They are susceptible to heavy soil erosion. Flat lands are comparatively scarce. The villages in Betapur and Diglipur constitute the main flat lands in the Andaman group.
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