There was a time when Andaman was mostly known as Kala Paani. To an extent, people used to refer it as a land of punishment. However, Andamans has its own history than just being a tourist destination or a prison.
Both the islands, Andaman and Nicobar are located at the junction of two seas Andaman and Bay of Bengal. These islands are one of the union territories in India, having a total area of more than 750 Sq. Meters. There are 572 islands in Andaman and Nicobar. Majority of the land areas are covered with greenery of forests which gives an astonishing view when the sun rises over. Needless to mention, that Andaman and Nicobar have such an atmosphere that any traveller will be filled with enthusiasm. Not only the view, but the history of Andaman and Nicobar is also very interesting.
Primitive Tribes
Andaman and Nicobar Islands has various tribes as their residents and most of them can be divided in following categories:
- Jarawas
- Sentenelese
- The Great Andamanese
- Onges
- Shompens
Origin
Andaman is believed to be named after Indian God ‘Hanuman’ while Nicobar is considered to be derived from Southern term ‘Nakkavaram’ which means a ‘land of naked’. The archaeological manifest suggest that the history of Andaman and Nicobar is of 2200 years old. But, the scientific researchers suggest that aboriginal Andamanese must have been detached from others almost thirty thousand years ago. Since then they have developed their own culture, languages and groups. However attestation of such claims is yet under consideration only.
Andamanese Kitchen Midden shows that Negritos were living in Great Andamans since 2000 years ago. It is also believed that aborigin Andamanese were the African slaves brought in by Portuguese. It is accepted in majority that Jarawa tribes were the last to be in existence out of all the other and it can be proved from the meaning of Jarawa, a Great Andamanese term which means ‘a stranger’
Kala Paani
If we refer the modernistic view of Andaman and Nicobar history, it provides us the details that these islands were in existence since Year 1857 and in Year 1906, the very popular Cellular Prison was constructed.
During the era of Indian freedom fighting it is believed that almost 773 freedom fighters were brought in Port Blair for Penal settlement in 1857. During Wahabi Movement, there were 70 activists who were acquitted to Andaman. On 1893, British Rulers in India decided to construct the Cellular Prison to conciliate 600 prisoners, and became a place where political activists were housed. The place gradually came to be known as Kalapani, which means blackwater. According to Indian culture, it is a taboo, that crossing this sea causes one to lose his varna status. Which means, the convicts to this place where threatened of losing their caste and were left in social exclusion.
Tsunami Effects in Year 2004
26th December, 2004 was a day when a high tsunami from the effect of Indian Ocean broke the island and more than 1500 people lost lives. This was considered as the national calamity which affected entire country and economy.
However, this could not harm the beauty of Andaman and Nicobar and the life had come to normal. The history of these territories is huge and still the researches are on, who knows what the future brings, but from the tourist point of view this is still one of the most desirable destination to enjoy the scenic view.