The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the 20th Century: A Gazetteer

The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago consists of 572 islands, islets, and coral rocks, cast about a thousand kilometers away from mainland India in the Bay of Bengal. Picturesque, yet often on the margins of public imagination, the islands have been etched in India’s memory for its dreaded cellular jail-a colonial outpost that confined several prominent members of India’s national movement. today, however, the Andamans are better known for their scenic location, the exotic flora and fauna, and architectural and geographical landmarks. This gazetteer-the first of its kind-provides a comprehensive history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the twentieth century, illustrating the economic and cultural integration of the Islands into the Union of India after Independence. The volume begins with a detailed account of the Island’s history till 1900. The Andamans are believed to have been visited by the celebrated Venetian explorer Marco polo in the fourteenth century. However, it was not until the late 1800s that Lt Archibald Blair of the British East India Company mapped them and established an outpost bringing them firmly under the Company’s control. After the 1857 uprising, India’s colonial rulers built and cellular jail-Kala Pani-for political prisoners. In providing a comprehensive survey of the Islands in the twentieth century, the volume discusses the geography of the Islands including topographical and physical features unique to the, the economy and its importance to shipping, transport, and communication in modern India, anthropological and sociological details, including a comprehensive portrait of the autochithonous people of the Islands-the Onges,Shompens, Jarawas, Sentinelese,and Andamanese-who have permitted minimal intrusion of modern civilization into their lives. The volume also includes a survey and analysis of the several rare and engagered species of plants and animals of the Islands, and a colourful narrative of indigenous folk tales of the Car Nicobares. Up-to-date and comprehensive, this gazetteer will significantly contribute to our knowledge and understanding of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The gazetteer is essential for anthropologists, sociologists, demographers, and activists working in organizations dealing with tribal issues, in addition to an informed lay audience.