Andaman – Beneath the modernity, Tribal lifestyles

Andaman Islands are an ever living memory in the minds of tourists who have visited this place. The serene beauty of this landscape isolated by Sea is amazing and captivating. The whole Island was hidden as a riddle mainly due to inaccessibility. The glitter of Bay of Bengal is undoubtedly Andaman group of Islands. Scenic with natural talent and amazing water bodies, Andaman amazes its tourists throughout the year nowadays. The white beaches of Andaman are shadowed by the drums and sticks of native tribes who were the real owners of the land. Andaman is home to a variety of tribes, each of them having their own distinct social and cultural ways of life.

 

                                                                                Primitive tribes in Andaman can be classified into Onge, Jarawa and Great Andamanese. Culture and language distinguishes the Great Andamanese from the rest of the pack. The land was once owned by these tribal people and nowadays they gave way to the modern lifestyle even though the culture didn’t change a lot. Onge tribe is one of the most ancient tribes of Andaman. They inhabit the little Andamans. They depend on natural foodstuffs for their living which include coconut, jackfruit, fish and roots. Being semi nomadic in their lifestyle they move from place to place. Craft in the Andaman Islands was developed by them.  The administration of Andaman provides assistance for the wellbeing of these natives. Jarawas are native folks of Andaman. They inhabited here about thousands of years. Their reign in the lands was rarely known to the outside world. They never got interested in connections outside their land and in fact over all these years their only connection was with the people of Andaman. They used bows and arrows as a means of hunting equipment for their food. They used to feed on pigs and monitor lizards. Their artistic touch was somewhat brilliant and it echoes in their rafts and other equipment’s they used.

                                                                                                Shopmens and Sentenelese were two tribal groups who owned the interiors of the Great Nicobar Isles and the North sentinel Islands. The Shopmen were of Mongoloid descent and they used very few clothing as they were isolated from the rest of the world. The main attribute of these tribes are their shy nature. They got the custom of wearing modern dresses from the Indian peninsula. A very interesting set of rules and formalities differentiate these people from the mainland natives. Since water bodies are in plenty, most of these tribes depend on the marine population for food. They make unique hooks and bait the fish as their food. The Sentenelese build temporary huts for their dwelling and their nomadic nature demands that only. Most of these tribal sections demand isolation and harmony. They are rarely interested in making a relation with outsiders and it is as if they live in a world of their own surrounded by water. Quite interesting are the facts and observations about these tribal groups who lead a very traditional lifestyle. It is quite interesting to find out that such a beautiful place has a vibrant collection of cultures and lifestyles.

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