The History of the Andaman and Nicobar Island– From origin to modern time

“Did you know the Andaman Islands were once called Handuman?” The island got the name “Handuman” from Malays. The Malays used to pronounce lord Hanuman as Handuman in the Ramayana. Over the time, Islands got the name “Andaman.”

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are group of 572 beautiful islands located at the down southeast edge of the Bay of Bengal. The islands have rich diversity in Flora & Fauna and in Marine Life. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands play an important role in the tourism of India with some of the most beautiful tourist places to visit.

. The Early Inhabitants

The archaeological evidence shows that the first sign of human presence on the Islands is about 2,200 years ago. But according to the genetic and cultural studies, the ancestors of the Andamanese people, an indigenous tribe of Andaman Islands who are isolated from other populations were present 30,000 years ago. 

The earliest reference to the name “Nicobar” found in the Sri Lankan Pali Buddhist chronicles, the Dipavamsa and the Mahavamsa.Over the centuries, many people from various culture and ethnic background settled in the Nicobar Islands. During the time of European interactions, these indigenous people came together, and form two groups called as “Nicobarese people” and “Shompen”. They speak multiple Mon-khmer languages (Austroasiatic languages spoken in Southeast Asia).

. In Chola empire period

During the reign of “Rajendra I” from 1014 AD to 1042 AD the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were use as a strategic naval base to initiate a military campaign against Srivijaya Empire of Indonesia. The Cholas called the island Manakkavaram which meant open or naked place. In 12^th-13^th century A European traveller Marco Polo who was among the first of the very few explorers to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands referred to the Island as ‘Necuverann’ a twisted bent form of the Tamil name Nakkavaram. Later in 17^th century, Marathas established their naval base in the Island which was later captured by British colonial and the Island got the modern name Nicobar.

. The British Colonisation

The European colonisation started with the settlers from the Danish East India Company arrived in the Nicobar Island in 1755. In 1756 they named Nicobar as New Denmark with establishing Danish colony on the Island. Between 1759 to 1848 they abandoned the Island due to breakout of malaria and during this period in 1778 to 1784 Austria attempted to capture the Island mistakenly assumed that Denmark has left the Island and renamed it “Theresia Islands”. In 1868 the Island became the part of British India which ended the presence of Denmark on the Island. The British established a colony at Port Blair. During their colonisation they used Andaman and Nicobar as a penal colony to send notorious criminals who went against the East India Company for freedom-related activities to the Island. And they named it “Kalapani” or “Cellular Jail”.

. The invasion of Japan in World War II

During the World War II in 1942 Japanese invaded the Andaman and Nicobar Island and took control over it. The atrocities caused by Japanese led fear and disturbance among the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Eventually Subhas Chandra Bose with his Arzi Hukumate Azad Hind enter the Islands. And they renamed the Islands as “Shaheed dweep” and “Swaraj-dweep”. In 1945 the Japanese military surrender to Brigadier J A Salemons and Chief Administrator Mr Noel K Patterson. Due to the Japanese military surrender, the British recaptured the Islands, and they control it until the final independence in the year 1947.

. After Independence – Islands become the part of India

After the Independence of India in 1947, the Britishers planned to make Andaman and Nicobar Islands as an Independent Nation by resettling Anglo Indian and Anglo Burmese. But somehow, the plan was not implemented, and Andaman and Nicobar became the part of India in 1950. The Andaman Nicobar Islands with their most beautiful Beaches and thick forests are declared as union territory of India in 1956