Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the ancient tales of its tribals.

Description

The Indigenous tribes of Andaman & Nicobar Islands

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Context: Nicobar project will not disturb or displace tribes informed by Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav.

Details

Origins and Arrival:

The Andaman Islands are home to four 'Negrito' tribes – the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese. The Nicobar Islands are home to two 'Mongoloid' tribes – the Shompen and Nicobarese.
The 'Negrito' tribes are believed to have arrived in the islands from Africa up to 60,000 years ago. All are nomadic hunter-gatherers, hunting wild pig and monitor lizard, and catching fish with bows and arrows. They also collect honey, roots and berries from the forest.
The 'Mongoloid' tribes probably came to the islands from the Malay-Burma coast several thousand years ago.

The Negrito Tribes of Andaman

Great Andamanese

They are one of the five PVTGs (Primitive Tribal Groups) that live in the Andaman archipelago.
They are based on Strait Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
They speak Jeru among themselves.
On 14th May 1859 great andamanese fought “The Battle of Aberdeen” with britishers.
The Andaman Government setup a statue for these Brave Soldiers in the Sea Shore of Marina Park as a memorial as it brings the spark of first freedom movement in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Onges

They have long lived on Little Andaman Island, the most southerly island in the Andaman archipelago.
They now live in a reserve in Dugong Creek that is a fraction of the size of their original territory.
The Onge call themselves En-iregale, which means ‘perfect person.’
The Onge are PVTGs (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups).
They have traditionally been hunter-gatherers and fishers, while also practicing cultivation.
They practice a form of animism, with ancestor worship being significant.
They traditionally make decisions through group consensus.

Jarwas

The Jarawas are inhabiting presently the Western coast of Middle Andaman and South Andaman Islands.
Jarawas continue to be hunting and gathering nomadic tribe.
They hunt wild pigs, monitor lizard with bows and arrows. Tips of the arrow is made of Iron.
Unlike Onges and Andamanese, Jarawas do not use dogs for hunting.
Molluscus constitute major part of their Pisces food.
Jarawas collect fruits and roots including honey from the forest.
They build temporary huts in their camps.
Approximately 400 members of the nomadic Jarawa tribe live in groups of 40-50 people in chaddhas – as they call their homes.

Sentinelese

The Sentinelese tribe inhabits the small North Sentinel Island. They also are hostile like Jarawas to outsiders.
Sentinelese are the hunting, fishing and gathering tribe.
Sentinelese have dug – out Canoe which is used to move in the shallow coastal waters.
They do not have the oars and therefore Canoes are propelled with long poles.
Sentinelese, both men and women do not wear cloths.
The estimated population is 100 to 150.

The Mongoloid Tribals Andaman:

Shompen

The Shompen are one of the most isolated tribes on Earth. They live on Great Nicobar Island in India, and most of them are uncontacted, refusing all interactions with outsiders.
Though according to the Census (2011), the estimated population of Shompen is 229.
They are one of the least studied Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India.
The Shompen are nomadic hunter-gatherers.
Their staple food is the pandanus fruit, which they call larop.
A Shompen family is controlled by the eldest male member, who controls all activities of the women and kids.
Monogamy is the general rule, although polygamy is allowed too.
Numbering around 300 people, they are now at risk of being totally wiped out by a “mega-development” plan to transform their small island home into the “Hong Kong of India.”

Nicobarese

The Nicobarese are not one particular tribe, but a blanket term referring to the dominant tribes residing on the Nicobar Islands.
Nicobarese are Mongoloid and are large in population when compared to others.
They have a matriarchal chief and most of them practise Christianity, while others practise animism and other traditional religions of the
The live mainly in joint families and the joint family is known as Tuhet. Among Nicobarese individual ownership doesn’t exist Tuhet owns the land, coconut and pigs.
They mainly depend on agriculture for their food and even use fruits and nuts as a form of currency.

More

Sentinelese: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/the-sentinelese

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