People of Andamans

About Andaman	Profile	History	Administration	Deputy Commissioner	Tourist Spots	IT in Andaman

The People of Andaman can be broadly categorized into two groups viz. Indigenous or Aborigines and Immigrants or Settlers. Prior to 1858, the Andaman Islands were inhabited by Autochthons only and with the founding of Penal Settlement at Port Blair after Indian Mutiny, Non-autochthons came to inhabit these Islands.

The tribes belong to Negrito race and inhabit the Andaman Islands. On the basis of the level of technological developments, the tribes can be classified as Hunters and Gatherers or Primitive and Horticulturists or advanced.

The Great Andamanese tribe is settled presently on the Strait Island by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration. This was the largest tribe earlier before the establishment of Penal Settlement in Andaman Islands. Various diseases including influenza etc. took large toll and the population was reduced to present 44 individuals only. The Administration has provided to the Andamanese the houses and raised Coconut Plantation. Further free ration including cloths is also being provided to them. As such, Andamanese are no longer a nomadic tribe. However, they do sometime go for hunting and fishing.

Onges are one of the most primitive tribes in India. The Onges are inhabiting the Little Andaman Island. This Hunting and Gathering tribe has also been settled by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration at Dugong Creek and South Bay on Little Andaman Island at present. Coconut plantation has been raised for the benefit of Onges Medical care, free ration etc. are being provided at these two Settlement by the Administration. Onges go for hunting and fishing occasionally . The present population of Onges is 105.

The Jarawas are inhabiting presently the Western coast of Middle Andaman and South Andaman Islands. They are hostile and, at times, raid the other areas where the Bengali and other people have been settled by the Government. The Andaman & Nicobar Administration have started the Contact Expeditions periodically to Jarawas to befriend them. The first friendly contact was made in 1974 and since then the Jarawas are not hostile to the Contact Expedition Team which goes with gifts like Coconut, Banana and other fruits.

Jarawas continue to be hunting and gathering nomadic tribe. They hunt wild pig, monitor lizard with bows and arrows. Tips of the arrow is made of Iron which they get from the sea shore. The iron pieces are available coasts as a drift material. Unlike Onges and Andamanese, Jarawas not have the dogs to help in their hunting activities. Men fish with bows and arrows in the coastal waters while women catch fish with basket. Molluscus constitute major part of their Pisces food. Jarawas collect fruits and roots including honey from the forest. They do build temporary huts in their camps. They use crude rafts to cross creeks and streams. The present estimated population of Jarawas is 300.

The Sentinelese tribe inhabits the small North Sentinel Island. They also are hostile like Jarawas to outsiders. The Contact Expeditions of Andaman and Nicobar Administration goes to the North Sentinel Island also periodically. A break through was achieved when the Contact team of the Administration led by Shri S.A.Awaradi, former Director of Tribal Welfare could establish the first ever friendly contact with the Sentinelese on 4th January 1991. Since then the Sentinelese have accepted gifts hand to hand from the Contact Party. However, the Sentinelese continue to be skeptical about the outsiders including

the Contact Expedition Team.

Sentinelese are the hunting, fishing and gathering tribe. They fish in the coastal waters with bows and arrows and hunt wild pigs available on North Sentinel island. Sentinelese have dug – out Canoe which they use to move in the shallow coastal waters. They do not have the oars but the Canoes are propelled by long poles. Sentinelese also build temporary huts in their camps. Sentinelese, both men and women, are naked. The present estimated population of Sentinelese is 100.