Nicobar district General information
Nicobar district is one of three districts in the Indian Union Territory (UT) of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The district's administrative territory encompasses all of the Nicobar Islands, which are located in the Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal, bordering with the Andaman Sea).
History
The existence of the Nicobars has been known from the time of Ptolemy onwards but the place is having a long unwritten history. The inhabitants had been in touch with the outer world through the trade of copra. However, the entry of the modern world into their lives started after the famous Vascodigama voyage to India. 17th century onwards Portugese and French missionaries tried to propagate Christianity in Nicobars. In 1756 the Danes took possession of these islands and established their head quarter on Kamorta island, but they abandoned the same in 1848. In 1869 the British formally took possession of these islands. In 1870 they established a panel settlement at Kamorta which was closed in 1888. The islands were included in the Chief Commissioner ship of A & N Islands in 1871. This Administrative arrangement continued till the Pre-Independence period. During 1920s, the British Government appointed Mr. E. Hert as first Assistant Commissioner for Nicobars.
The impact of world war II and consequent Japanese occupation of the Islands from 1942-45 caused a great upheaval in the mind of the people. After a brief period of British repossession the islands achieved independence as an integral part of the Republic of India on 15th August 1947, because they have been part of the old British Empire of India. John Richardson was ordained as Bishop in 1950. He also represented the Andaman and Nicobar islands as a nominated Member of parliament for the first time. Thus he became a modern architect of Nicobarese society.
Soon after Independence the Government was keen to protect the interests of the Nicobarese and did not allow outside traders to exploit the people. The regulation for the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes came into force in 1956 under which entry to the Nicobar Islands was strictly restricted. However in the late sixties the Administration started settlement of non-tribals in this group of islands, like Andmans. 330 ex-defence presonnel were settled in some de-reserved areas of Great Nicobar island, where Panchayat System exists at present. Some Plantation Tamils were also brought in mid 70s for engaging in rubber plantation works in Katchal Island. Owing to increase in population, 165 Car-Nicobari families were resettled in 1973-74 to Little Andaman Island.
On 1st August, 1974, Nicobar group of islands was declared a separate district with its headquarter at Car Nicobar, where half of the population exists. Except three Panchayats and one Panchayat Samiti in Great Nicobar, rest of the District is having its own local traditional Tribal Councils.
Geography
The Nicobar Islands are situated in the South-east of the Bay of Bengal between 6 degree – 10 degree N latitude and between 92 degree- 94 degree E longitude. There are altogether 22 large and small islands, out of which only twelve have inhabitants.
The most northerly island of the group is Car Nicobar, which is 143 miles from Port Blair and the ten degree channel about 75 miles separate in from Little Andaman. Chowra, Teressa, Bompoka, Katchal, Kamorta, Nancowry and Trinket form the central group of Nicobar islands ; while in the southern group are Pulo Milo, Little Nicobar, Kondul, Great Nicobar and so on. The extreme southern point of Great Nicobar, previously known as Pygmalion Point and now Indira Point, is about 91 geographical miles from Pulo Brass of Achin Head of Sumatra. The uninhabited islands in the central and southern group are Batti Malv, Tileangchong and Meroe , Trak, Treis, Menchal and Kabra respectively. The Nicobars stretch over 36 miles, with an aggregate of 635 sq. miles.
Origin of name
Falling between the sea route from South India / Sri Lanka to South East Asia and vice-vers, the voyagers referred it as “land of the nake” i.e. Nakkavar which is perhaps the direct Predecessor of the current name “Nicobar’. The medieval Arabic name ‘Lankhabatus’ is a mere mistranscription and misapprehension of “Nankakar or Nakkavar”. Lord Ram, the hero of epic ‘Ramayana’ is meant to have passed through the Islands during his period of exile )Mathur: 1967). Somdev’s ‘Kathasaritsagar’ (11th century) indicates it as ‘Narikel Dweep’. The islands have also been mentioned in the accounts of travellers like Fahien, (6th century); I-T’sing (early 7th century); Ptolemy (2nd century); Marco Polo (13th century) and Friar Oderic (early 14th century). The islands were known in China as Lo-Jan Kuo (land of the naked people) according to the writings of I-T’Sing. An inscription dated (1059 AD) of the Chola King of Tanjore indicates that these islands were used as base shelter station for waging war and keeping control over South East Asia. The geographical names for the different islands have all obscure, complicated and interesting histories, whereas, each island has a native name too.
Demography
The District is having a population of 42,068 (2001). Out of this population, around 70% belong to tribal category. The District consists of 2 tribes namely – Nicobari and Shompen. Nicobari constitutes the larger part and they reside in all the inhabitant Islands of the District. Shompen is Semi – Nomadic tribe, and reside only in certain pockets of Great Nicobar Island.
Location and General Particulars:
Location : Bay of Bengal (Between Sumatra & Andaman Islands)
Latitude : Between 6th Parallel and 10th Parallel of North Latitude.
Longitude : Between 92.40 degrees and 94 degrees of East Longitude.
Climate
The atmosphere is damp and warm all the year round though when the sun is soothing the nights may be chilly, while the temperature varies from 65 to 98 degrees (F) in the shade. The rainfall is anything between 90 and 170 inches annually, and is considerably more on Great Nicobar; most rain falls during the South West Monsoon, but hardly a month passes without it. The monsoon sets in at the end of May or beginning of June and strong south-westerly winds heavy squalls are current till September. Easterly winds prevail from November till April, usually beginning from the south-east and veering round to the north-east. During October and from February to April it is usually calm. Cyclones have been recorded here, but as a rule the cyclones, which reverse the Bay of Bengal, originate north of the Nicobars and do not affect these islands.
Normal rainfall : 2750 mm
Temperature : 22 deg – 32 deg.
Relative humidity : 70%
Occupation
The Primary occupation of the tribal population is agriculture, which is basically limited to cocunut, arecanut and banana plantations.
Languages
Six distinct dialects and languages are spoken in the Archipleago- one Car Nicobar, another Chowra, Teressa and Bompoka, together have one, the centre Islands of Kamorta, Nancowry, Trinket and Katchal speak a fourth, Little Nocobar and Great Nicobar with their adjacent Islands have a fifth. Lastly, the shompens who are also one of the Aboriginal tribe staying in interior part of Great Nicobar employ a speech that is different from the others. The languages has 25 consonants and 35 vowel. It is Polysyllabic and untoned. There are quite a number of foreign words from “SHAPOTO” ( for boat) , “Labre ( for book-paper) and “SHAPEO” (for hat) are from Portuguese language. The words “MONGKO” (cup) “KAPO” (Buffalow) and “HAIYAM” (fowl) are for instance from the Malaya language.
Religion
98 percent of the Nicobarese are Christians following the Protestant faith. Christianity spread after the advent of a South Indian Missionary, one Mr. Vedeppan Thambuswamy who later took the name of Mr. Vedeppan Solomon. The remaining 2 percent population consists of Muslim originally from Minicoy and Gujarat. Some of them married Nicobarese and can now be termed as “Nicobari Muslims”. Then a section of the people in Island like Chowra and Shompens of Great Nicobar still profess their old religion of animism.
Culture/Festivals
The "TUHET" or large joint family is mostly prevalent in Car Nicobar. The nuclear family is more prominent in central and southern Nicobar. The tuhet is not just a homestead; even members living in different areas of a village are united for all practical purposes under the banner of the Tuhet.
The art & culture of Nicobari are in tune with their environment & needs. Their large seafaring canoes are so skilfully built that they are light and easily carried as each is made of a piece of wood hollowed out very carefully.
Music & Dance are components of Nicobari culture. Dancing is always accompanied by singing. In Car Nicobar men & women nver dance together but in other islands they do. Folklore is narrated and folk songs are sung on festive occasions. With the influence of film songs & western vocal music the Nicobari now-a-days compose modern romantic music which they play in melodious tunes on the guitars & other musical instruments.
On all Saints Day, Easter & Christmas people call on the Nicobari of the other islands, sing Hymns & Carols & exchange greetings. Even, non-Christians like the Mislims & animist are invited to attend the festival. Inter island marriages are common. On the whole the Nicobari enjoy peaceful and harmonious religion with each other.
Education
As per Census 2001, the literacy rate of Nicobar is 72.41% comprising of 78.26% of male and 65.50% of females in Nicobar District. Amongst the two tehsils of Nicobar District, Car Nicobar tehsil recorded literacy rate of 74.12% whereas the same has been 70.75% in Nancowry tehsil. Nicobarese is a special subject taught in Primary class in addition to Hindi. There are 5 Non-formal education centres and 23 JSN centres in the District. Sarva Siksha Abiyan (SSA) has been launched in the district. Under SSA 30 villages will adopted with community participation.
Environment
The ecological system of Islands is fragile. Both top soil cover and water resources are limited. Except for few seasonal streams (nallahs), Galathea, Alexandria and Dagmar streams in Great Nicobar, there are no fresh water sources, which can be termed as rivers. Galathea was explored for the first time in 1901 by the Boden Kloss expedition and later by a party led by the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobars District in June 1978.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, G.O.I. has designated major part of Great Nicobar as Biosphere reserve. The reserve extends in two parts over 885 Sq.Km. or about 85% of the Great Nicobar Island.
To conserve and protect the bio diversity of flora and fauna two areas were declared as National Parks namely Campbell Bay National Park & Galathea National Park in this district.
Three Islands of Nicobar District has been declared as Wild Life Sanctuary. Battimilav Island Sanctuary is one of the strongholds of Nicobar Pigeon. Magapode Island Sanctuary, the southern most wild life sanctuary of India, is one of the last strongholds of greatly endangered Magapode. Tilanchong Island Sanctuary, set-up to protect the rare and endangered northern subspecies (Nicobariensis) of the Magapode.
There are no dangerous wild animals in the District. Common birds found include the Imperial pigeon, Green pigeon, Golden riole, king fishers, common sparrow, Babblers, sunbird, green parrot, owls and Doves. There is also a fair prickling of wild fowls. The common crow is conspicuous by its total absence. Of the sea birds, only bleak fish eagles and wild sea gulls have been spotted. Bats are present in large numbers and are eaten as great delicacy.
Among the reptiles, the Python and centipede are found. Crocodiles and monkeys are found only in Great Nicobar and Katchal Islands.
The Nicobar Islands have a considerable stock of marine life. We have beautiful coral formations, seashells of different sizes, and varieties of fish like sardines, tuna, barracuda, mullets, mackerels, starfish and flying fish. Sharks and dolphins have also been spotted. Whales have also been seen inside the Nancowry harbour. Other smaller sea creature found includes turtles, octopus and crabs of all kinds.