Table of Contents
Introduction: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands at the southeastern edge of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean. They are a union territory of India, comprising two island groups: the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands.
The Andaman Islands consist of around 572 islands, with the major ones being North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, and Little Andaman. The Nicobar Islands are further south and comprise around 22 main islands, with Great Nicobar being the largest. The capital of the territory is Port Blair, located on South Andaman Island.
These islands are known for their stunning natural beauty, with lush tropical forests, pristine beaches, and diverse marine life. They are home to several indigenous communities, including the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, and Sentinalese, who have inhabited these islands for thousands of years.
Tourism is a significant industry in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, attracting visitors with opportunities for snorkeling, scuba diving, trekking, and exploring historical sites such as Cellular Jail, which was used by the British to exile political prisoners.
Basic Details about Andaman
- Introduction:
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a union territory of India.
- It comprises two island groups, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands, separated by the 150 km wide Ten Degree Channel.
- The total land area of the islands is approximately 8,249 km2.
- Geography:
- It is a group of islands consisting of 572 islands but only 38 are permanently inhabited.
- The Andaman group has 325 islands.
- The island chains are thought to be a submerged extension of the Arakan Mountains (a mountain range in western Myanmar).
- The Andaman islands consist of four groups:
- Great Andaman
- Little Andaman
- Ritchie’s Archipelago [Ritchie’s Archipelago is a cluster of smaller islands that lie 20 km east of Great Andaman.]
- East Volcano Islands
- Great Andaman is the main archipelago which comprises seven major islands –
- North Andaman,
- Interview Island,
- Middle Andaman,
- Long Island,
- Baratang Island,
- South Andaman,
- Rutland Island.
- The highest point of Andaman is Saddle Peak (732 m) which is located on North Andaman Island.
- Mount Thuillier (568 m) is the highest point in the Nicobar Islands.
- Indira Point at the southern tip of the southernmost island, Great Nicobar, is the southernmost point of India and lies only 200 km (120 mi) from Sumatra island (Indonesia).
- Administration:
- Andaman’s capital is the city of Port Blair.
- The territory is divided into three districts: the Nicobar District with Car Nicobar as its capital, the South Andaman district with Port Blair as its capital, and the North and Middle Andaman district with Mayabunder as its capital.
- Volcanos:
- Barren Island is the only active volcano in India.
- Narcondam, (India’s easternmost island) is a dormant volcano.
Historical Significance of Andaman
- Rajendra Chola II (1051–1063 CE), used the Islands as a strategic naval base to launch an expedition against the Srivijaya Empire (Indonesia).
- According to Thanjavur’s inscription, the Cholas called the island Ma-Nakkavaram.
- European traveler Marco Polo (12th–13th century) mentioned this island.
- The islands became a temporary shipping port for the Maratha Empire and its navy in the 17th century.
- European Settlement:
- The Danish East India Company arrived on the Nicobar Islands on 12 December 1755. On 1 January 1756, the Nicobar Islands became a Danish colony, initially named Nye Danmark (New Denmark) and later Frederick’s Islands. However, attempts to settle on the islands failed due to recurring malaria outbreaks. On 16 October 1868, Denmark sold the rights to the Nicobar Islands to the British, which became part of British India in 1869.
- Between 1778 and 1783, William Bolts attempted to establish an Austrian colony on the Nicobar Islands, renaming them Theresa Islands.
- In 1788, Lt. Archibald Blair (appointed by the East India Company) stayed here to survey the Andaman Sea.
- In 1858, the British established a colony near Port Blair.
- World War II:
- During World War II, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were invaded by the Japanese in 1942.
- Port Blair was captured by the Japanese on 23 March 1942.
- Provisional control was transferred to the Azad Hind of Subhash Chandra Bose on 29 December 1943, with the islands renamed Shaheed-Dweep (Martyr Island) and Swaraj-dweep (Self-rule Island).
- General A. D. Loganathan was appointed as governor.
- The territory was officially handed back to the British in a ceremony at the Gymkhana Ground in Port Blair on 7 October 1945, marking the end of Japanese occupation.
- On 26 December 2004, the Islands were devastated by a tsunami following an undersea earthquake in the Indian Ocean.
Nicobar
- Nicobar group has 22 islands (10 inhabited).
- Andaman group is separated from the Nicobar Group by the Ten Degree Channel (150 km wide).
- Total land area: 1841 km2.
- Population (2011) – 3,79,994.
- Literacy Rate – 86.27%.
- The highest peak – Mount Thullier (568 meters), in Great Nicobar.
- Danish East India Company was the first European colonizer to arrive in the Nicobar Islands on 12 December 1755. On 1 January 1756, the Nicobar Islands were made a Danish colony, first named New Denmark, and later Frederick’s Islands.
Cellular Jail
- Construction of Cellular Jail began in 1896 and was completed in 1906.
- The jail had 693 cells specifically built for solitary confinement of prisoners.
- A notable feature was the complete lack of communication between prisoners in different wings.
- The front of one row of cells faced the back of another, preventing interaction.
- Near the entrance, a two-storied building was constructed to serve as the jail hospital.
National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
| Name and Year of Creation | Location | Important Points |
|---|---|---|
| Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (1983) | South Andaman (Andaman and Nicobar) | |
| North Button Island National Park (1979) Middle Button Island National Park (1979) South Button Island National Park (1987) – Smallest National Park in India | South Andaman (Andaman and Nicobar) | Fauna – Dolphin, Dugong, Blue whale |
| Saddle Peak National Park (1987) | Saddle Peak | |
| Rani Jhansi Marine National Park (1996) | Ritchie’s Archipelago Ritchie’s Archipelago is a cluster of smaller islands, 20 km east of Great Andaman. | |
| Mount Harriet National Park (1969) | Mount Harriet, North Andaman Mount Harriet, at 383 meters, is part of the park and is the third-highest peak in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. | Robber crabs. The park is a butterfly hotspot. |
| Campbell Bay National Park | Great Nicobar Island | Crab-eating macaque, Nicobar treeshrew |
| Galathea National Park (1992) | Great Nicobar Island | Giant robber crab (coconut crab), Nicobar pigeon |
Tribes of Andaman [Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Sentinalese, Shompen]
- Great Andamanese:
- Population and Location: Historically the most numerous, with an estimated population between 2,000 and 6,600, now reduced to about 59 individuals as of 2020. They live in the Great Andaman archipelago.
- Language and Culture: Originally divided into ten tribes with distinct but related languages known as Great Andamanese languages. Now, they are a single ethnic group with mixed descent.
- History: Suffered drastic population decline due to diseases, alcohol, colonial warfare, and loss of territory.
- Jarawas:
- Population and Location: Estimated population between 250 and 400 individuals.
- Location: They live in parts of South Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands.
- Language and Culture: Known for largely avoiding contact with outsiders, maintaining their traditional lifestyle. Increased interaction with outsiders since the 1990s.
- Status: designated Scheduled Tribe. [Article 366(25) of the Constitution of India defines Scheduled Tribes as those tribes or tribal communities that are recognized under Article 342 of the Constitution as Scheduled Tribes.]
- Onge:
- Population: Around 100 individuals.
- Location: They reside primarily on Little Andaman Island.
- Language and Culture: Speak the Onge language, belonging to the Ongan language family. Traditionally hunter-gatherers with a semi-nomadic lifestyle.
- Challenges: Faced similar issues as other tribes with diseases and loss of habitat due to external influences.
- Shompen:
- Population: Estimated at about 300 individuals.
- Location: They live in the interior of Great Nicobar Island.
- Language and Culture: Speak the Shompen language, which is poorly documented. Known for their isolated and semi-nomadic lifestyle, relying on hunting and gathering.
- Interaction: They maintain limited interaction with outsiders and other indigenous groups.
- Sentinelese:
- Population and Location: Estimates range between 50 and 200 individuals.
- Location: North Sentinel Island.
- Language and Culture: Their language remains undescribed due to lack of contact. They are highly reclusive and hostile to outsiders.
- Protection: North Sentinel Island is a designated tribal reserve with strict restrictions on travel and contact to protect their way of life. The government enforces a no-contact policy to ensure their safety and autonomy.