Culture in Andaman Islands

Andaman and Nicobar culture show a mix of the indigenous cultures of the Negroid and the Mongoloid settlers of the island, as well as a more mainstream culture brought down by the descendants of the early settlers in the island from the Indian mainland. The migrants also contributed to the culture of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The greatest feature of Andaman and Nicobar culture is the peaceful coexistence of these two strains of cultural lives.

Cultural Patters of the Indigenous Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar

The most distinguishing aspect of Andaman and Nicobar culture are the culture of the indigenous people of the islands. Andaman and Nicobar islanders can be divided into two major groups. The inhabitants of the Andamans are of Negroid origin and migrated from Africa thousands of years ago, way back in the later Paleolithic age. The main ethnic groups are:

The inhabitants of Nicobar are equally old, if nor older. They are however of a Mongoloid origin. The main groups of Nicobar tribes are the Nicobari (Nicobarese) and Shompen.

All these tribes have continued with their indigenous culture at Andaman and Nicobar islands, and still continue to do so. The relative isolation of these tribes have helped to preserve these streams of Andaman and Nicobar culture.

The Colonial and Post – Colonial influences

The Andaman and the Nicobar islands was a popular place as a penal deportation. The infamous Cellular Jail added to its notoriety. Many freedom fighters from all parts of India were either jailed or deported to Andaman. Their descendants formed a separate identity group distinct from the aborigines in Andaman and Nicobar. Their ranks were soon swelled with the migrants from Bangladesh, Burma and other neighboring countries in the years following the end of the colonial rule. They have largely added to the culture in Andaman and Nicobar islands.