Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands ; (Hindi: अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीपसमूह, Bengali: আন্দামান ও নিকোবর দ্বীপপুঞ্জ, Tamil: அந்தமான் நிக்கோபார் தீவுகள் are a group of islands in the Bay of Bengal and a Union Territory of India.

The territory is 150 km north of Aceh in Indonesia and separated from Thailand and Burma by the Andaman Sea. It comprises two island groups, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands, separated by the 10° N parallel, with the Andamans to the north of this latitude, and the Nicobars to the south. The Andaman Sea lies to the east and the Bay of Bengal to the west.

The territory's capital is the Andamanese town of Port Blair. The territory's population as per the most recent (2011) Census of India was 379,944. The total land area of the territory is approximately 6496 km2.

First inhabitants
The 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 isolation studies the Middle Paleolithic.

In the Andaman Islands, the various Andamanese people maintained their separated existence through the vast majority of this time, 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: 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.
 * 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).

The indigenous people of the Nicobars (unrelated to the Andamanese) have a similarly isolated and lengthy association with the islands. There are two main groups:
 * the Nicobarese, or Nicobari, living throughout many of the islands; and
 * the Shompen, restricted to the hinterland of Great Nicobar.

Pre-colonial era
[Rajendra Chola I] (1014 to 1042 CE), one of the Tamil Chola dynasty kings, occupied Andaman and Nicobar Islands to use it as a strategic naval base to launch a naval expedition against Sriwijaya Empire (a Hindu-Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia). The cholas called the 'Nicobar' island as 'Nakkavaram' which is inscribed on the Tanjore inscription of 1050 CE. Nakkavaram in Tamil means "naked man" or "land of the naked" which should have been evolved to the modern name "Nicobar". Marco Polo (12-13th Century CE) also referred this island as 'Necuverann'.

The name of the island has always been 'Andaman' and might represent Handuman, the Malay form of Hanuman. The islands provided a temporary maritime base for ships of the Marathas in the 17th century. The legendary admiral Kanhoji Angre established naval supremacy with a base in the islands and is credited with attaching those islands to India.

Danish occupation of the Nicobar Islands
The history of organized European colonization on the islands began when the Danish settlers of the Danish East India Company arrived on Nicobar Islands on 12 December 1755. On January 1, 1756, the Nicobar Islands was made a Danish colony and renamed 'New Denmark'. In December 1756, the Nicobar Islands was renamed 'Frederiksøerne' (Frederiks Islands). During 1754–1756 they were administrated under the name of Frederiksøerne from Tranquebar (in continental Danish India); missionaries from the Moravian Church Brethren's settlement in Tranquebar attempted a settlement on Nancowry and died in great numbers from disease; the islands were repeatedly abandoned due to outbreaks of malaria between 14 April 1759 - 19 August 1768, from 1787-1807/05, 1814–1831, 1830–1834 and finally from 1848 gradually for good.

From 1 June 1778 to 1784, they were occupied by Austria, and renamed 'Theresia Islands', attempting to establish a colony on the islands on the mistaken assumption that Denmark had abandoned its claims to the islands. Danish involvement ended formally on 16 October 1868 when the Danish rights to the Nicobar Islands were sold to Britain, which made them part of British India by 1869 when the British took possession

British colonial period
After an initial attempt to set up a colony in the islands by the British was abandoned after only a few years (1789–1796), a second attempt from 1858 proved to be more permanent. The primary purpose was to set up a penal colony for dissenters and independence fighters from the Indian subcontinent.

The British used the islands as an isolated prison for members of the Indian independence movement. The mode of imprisonment was campaign 1941-1942.

Indian control
The islands were only nominally put under the authority of the Arzi Hukumate Azad Hind of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and the Islands were practically under Japanese control, who committed tremendous atrocities. Netaji visited the islands during the war, and renamed them as "Shaheed-dweep" (Martyr Island) & "Swaraj-dweep" (Self-rule Island). General Loganathan, of the Indian National Army was made the Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. On 22 February 1944 he along with four INA officers — Major Mansoor Ali Alvi, Sub. Lt. Md. Iqbal, Lt. Suba Singh and stenographer Srinivasan—arrived at 8o0olLambaline Airport in Port Blair. On 21 March 1944 the Headquarters of the Civil Administration was established near the Gurudwara at Aberdeen Bazaar. On 2 October 1944, Col. Loganathan handed over the charge to Maj. Alvi and left Port Blair, never to return. The islands were reoccupied by British and Indian troops of the 116th Indian Infantry Brigade on 7 October 1945, to whom the remaining Japanese garrison surrendered.

At the independence of both India (1947) and Burma (1948), the departing British announced their intention to resettle all Anglo-Indians and Anglo-Burmese on the islands to form their own nation, although this never materialized. It became part of the Indian union in 1956. It was declared a union territory on 1956.

Recent history
On 26 December 2004 the coasts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were devastated by a 10 m high tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. At least 5,930 people were believed to have been killed on the Nicobar and Andaman Islands during the disaster. The worst affected Nicobar islands were Katchal and Indira Point, the latter the southernmost point of India, which was submerged by the ocean.

While newer settlers of the islands suffered the greatest casualties from the tsunami, most of the aboriginal people survived because oral traditions passed down from generations ago warned them to evacuate from large waves that follow large earthquakes.

Geography


There are 572 islands in the territory having an area of 8249 km2. Of these, only 38 are permanently inhabited. The islands extends from 6° to 14° North latitudes and from 92° to 94° East longitudes. The Andamans are separated from the Nicobar group by a channel (the Ten Degree Channel) some 150 km wide. The highest point is located in North Andaman Island (Saddle Peak at 732 m). The Andaman group has 325 islands which cover an area of 6408 km2 while the Nicobar group has only 24 islands with an area of 1841 km2.

The northernmost point of the Andaman and Nicobars group is 901 km away from the mouth of the Hooghly River and 190 km from Burma. The southernmost island, Great Nicobar's southernmost point, called Indira Point, lies only 150 km from Sumatra in Indonesia. The capital of the union territory, Port Blair, is located 1255 km from Kolkata, 1200 km from Visakhapatnam and 1190 km from Chennai.

Flora
Andaman & Nicobar Islands are blessed with a unique tropical rainforest canopy, made of a mixed flora with elements from Indian, Myanmarese, Malaysian and endemic floral strains. So far, about 2,200 varieties of plants have been recorded, out of which 200 are endemic and 1,300 do not occur in mainland India.

The South Andaman forests have a profuse growth of epiphytic vegetation, mostly ferns and orchids. The Middle Andamans harbours mostly moist deciduous forests. North Andamans is characterized by the wet evergreen type, with plenty of woody climbers. The North Nicobar Islands (including Car Nicobar and Battimalv) are marked by the complete absence of evergreen forests, while such forests form the dominant vegetation in the central and southern islands of the Nicobar group. Grasslands occur only in the Nicobars, and while deciduous forests are common in the Andamans, they are almost absent in the Nicobars. The present forest coverage is claimed to be 86.2% of the total land area.

This atypical forest coverage is made up of twelve types, namely:
 * 1) Giant evergreen forest
 * 2) Andamans tropical evergreen forest
 * 3) Southern hilltop tropical evergreen forest
 * 4) Cane brakes
 * 5) Wet bamboo brakes
 * 6) Andamans semi-evergreen forest
 * 7) Andamans moist deciduous forest
 * 8) Andamans secondary moist deciduous forest
 * 9) Littoral forest
 * 10) Mangrove forest
 * 11) Brackish water mixed forest
 * 12) Submontane hill valley swamp forest

Timber
Andaman Forest abounds in a plethora of timber species numbering 200 or more, out of which about 30 varieties are considered to be commercial. Major commercial timber species are Gurjan (Dipterocarpus spp.) and Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides). The following ornamental woods are noted for their pronounced grain formation: Padauk being sturdier than teak is widely used for furniture making.
 * 1) Marble Wood (Diospyros marmorata)
 * 2) Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides)
 * 3) Silver Grey (a special formation of wood in white chuglam)
 * 4) Chooi (Sageraea elliptical)
 * 5) Kokko (Albizzia lebbeck)

There are burr wood and buttress formations in Andaman Padauk. The largest piece of buttress known from Andaman was a dining table of 13 x. The largest piece of burr was again a dining table to seat eight persons at a time.

The holy Rudraksha (Elaeocarps sphaericus) and aromatic Dhoop/Resin trees also are found here.

Fauna
These islands because some like turbo, trochus and nautilus etc. are used as novelties supporting many cottage industries producing a wide range of decorative items and ornaments. Shells such as giant clam, green mussel and oyster support edible shell fishery, a few like scallop, clam, and cockle are burnt in kilns to produce edible lime.

Demographics
The major languages spoken in the Andamans in numerical order are Bengali (32.6%), Hindi (25.95%), Tamil including Sri Lankan Tamils (17.84%), Nicobarese and Telugu (18.93%). Other languages include Malayalam and English. More than 2,000 people belonging to the Karen tribe live in the Mayabunder tehsil of North Andaman district, almost all of whom are Christians. Despite their tribal origins, the Karen of Andamans have OBC status in the Andamans.

The majority of Andamans are Hindus, with significant Christian, Muslim and Sikh minorities.

Foreigners wishing to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands require a Restricted Area Permit; permits are now available on arrival at Port Blair's Veer Savarkar Airport.

Administration
In 1874, the British had placed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in one administrative territory headed by a Chief Commissioner as its judicial administrator. On 1 August 1974, the Nicobar islands were hived off into another revenue district with district headquarters at Car Nicobar under a Deputy Commissioner. In 1982, the post of Lieutenant Governor was created who replaced the Chief Commissioner as the head of administration. Subsequently a "Pradesh council" with representatives of the people was constituted to advise the Lieutenant Governor.

Administrative divisions
Andaman & Nicobar Islands are divided into 3 districts. Each districts are again sub-divided into Sub-Divisions and taluks.

North and Middle Andaman district Headquarters: Mayabunder


 * Diglipur Sub-Division
 * Diglipur taluk


 * Mayabunder Sub-Division
 * Mayabunder taluk
 * Rangat taluk

South Andaman district Headquarters: Port Blair


 * Port Blair Sub-Division
 * Port Blair taluk
 * Ferrargunj taluk


 * Little Andaman Sub-Division
 * Little Andaman taluka (Hut Bay)

Nicobar District Headquarters: Car Nicobar


 * Car Nicobar Sub-Division
 * Car Nicobar taluk


 * Nancowrie Sub-Division
 * Nancowrie taluk
 * Kamorta taluk
 * Teressa taluk
 * Katchal taluk


 * Great Nicobar Sub-Division
 * Great Nicobar taluk (Campbell Bay)
 * Little Nicobar taluk

Agriculture
A total of 48675 ha 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 such as pepper, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon are grown under a multi-tier cropping system. Rubber, red oil, palm and cashew are grown on a limited scale in these islands.

Industry
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/Jet Airways.

Macro-economic trend
This is a chart of trend of gross state domestic product of Andaman and Nicobar Islands at market prices, estimated by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands' gross state domestic product for 2004 was estimated at $354 million in current prices.

Tribals exploited by tourists
In 2012, the country was shocked by the news of tourists and locals exploiting the tribals in Andaman for food. The videos captured in contravention of Supreme Court of India orders of 2002 show Jarawa girls dancing topless. . It should be mentioned that the traditional costume of Jarawa women are straw skirts without tops. In the video, nobody tried to or forced removal of clothes.

Tourist places

 * Cellular Jail
 * Baratang
 * Barren Island
 * Havelock Island
 * Mount Harriot