If you have ever visited Andaman Islands, you must have heard the stories of Jarawas, the tribals who have been residing here since centuries. For those who haven’t visited here, we bring the story of the Jarawas, the tribals who continue living their life in their most primitive stage. They continue hunting and fishing to satiate their hunger; at times, they are seen naked while some times, they are seen wearing some clothes which they have started recently a few years back, due to their counselling by NGOs.
The largest tribe
The Jarawa tribe, in fact, is one amongst the largest tribes in Andaman Islands with a population ranging between 250 and 400. They have shunned all interaction with outsiders since centuries. In fact, their name goes with their nature and means “The hostile ones”. The Jarawas have been residing in a thick forest reserve spreading around 1,028km between the south and middle Andamans.
Tribal tourism
Many tourists, interesting to see them, take a two-hour bus ride from Andaman’s capital Port Blair to Baratang, which houses many limestone caves as well as mud volcanoes. The tourists have to travel via the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) which cuts through the Jarawa reserves. During their trip, the officials warn the tourists to shut the car windows and not to take their hand ever. Even their cameras are been kept with driver so that no tourist can ever take a picture of any tribal. The reason is that tribals get annoyed and might attack the tourists.
Tracing the tribals on way
While taking the ATR track, they might see these tribals taking a hunted animal on their shoulder or else carrying bows and arrows on their shoulders. The Jarawa comprise the primitive stage of life on earth and depend upon forest and sea for food.
The regular food comprise wild boar and monitor lizard. Also, fruits , honey and tubers comprise their diet. A few years back, the jarawas of both sexes were seen naked, however, now, a few of them have started wearing clothes after coming in touch with NGOs working there. They are also seen wearing shells and palm leaves.
When they fought Britishers
This tribe was earlier living in the southeast part of Andaman however after the British regime, they shifted to the western region of the island. This tribe, along with other Andamanese tribes resisted Britishers when they tried to enter the island for first time in around 1788-89. With their total population counting to 5000-8000, they were able to resist them, resulting in the British to shift to Port Conwallis. Also their plans to obtain Port Blair and Ross island had to be withdrawn for next 60 years.However Britishers tried again to capture Port Blair in 1858 and was successful but the Andamanese tribe in 1859 attacked on them again. This battle fought between the great Andamanese and the British regime is called as ‘The Aberdeen war’.
The tribe made a well-planned attack on Britishers however were betrayed by one Dudhanth Tiwari who for some time had lived with the tribals.
The great Andamanese suffered due to this betrayal. As they fought with bows and arrows against Brtishers’ guns and artillery, quite a big number of their young male population was killed in the battle. Their population dwindled and by 1901 only 625 great Andamanese were left. Seems they learned the lesson and hence still dont trust humans and maintain a decent distance with human class.