The Jarawa (Ang) Territory: Historical Manifestations and Contextual Situations in Andaman Islands

Abstract

This manuscript is an attempt to analyse different manifestations of Jarawa (Ang) territory in terms of historical context and present situations in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Jarawa (Ang) is one of the last remaining Negrito hunter-gatherer communities of Andaman and until recently they were living in complete isolation from so called civilized society. From different historical documents it is also evident that compared to the Great Andamanese tribe, the Jarawa (Ang) is the later immigrants at the Great Andaman Island and they were living in a continuous conflict and clash during pre- British colonization period also. Except few sporadic contact events, Jarawa (Ang) never came into a friendly relationship with the outsiders during about 150 years of British colonization and 50 years of post-independence period. Due to different historical specific and contextual specific reasons, the Jarawa (Ang) territory had never been a fixed geographical area. It was in continuous change and shift from coastal to the interior forest areas and from south to north direction. This change of Jarawa (Ang) territory is not merely the physical shifting of particular community from one place to another. It has many sociocultural and demographic implications and consequences. After independence a demarcated area has been declared as reserve forest for pursuing their livelihood. The present day Jarawa (Ang) territory (1028 sq. km) is surrounded by different dominant neighboring settler communities from three sides at South, East and North. The notionally and geographically demarcated boundary of Jarawa (Ang) territory is merely an administrative category; it does not make any sense for a nomadic hunter-gatherer community like Jarawa (Ang). A reciprocal relationship has already been established between Jarawa (Ang) and neighboring villager. Across the boundary this reciprocity is the prime source of many changes in Jarawa (Ang) society and culture.