The Andaman and Nicobar Islands ethnicity can be classified into two large divisions. One is the Negrito ethnicity of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who mainly dwelt in the Andaman Islands. The other is the Mongoloid ethnicity in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who lived in the Nicobar Islands.
Profiles of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The tribal groups belonging to the Negrito group are chiefly Nicobarese and Shompens. The tribal groups constituting the Mongoloid ethnicity at Andaman and Nicobar Islands, are the Jarawas, Great Andamanese, Onges and Sentinelese.
The tribal people, who form the indigenous Andaman and Nicobar ethnicity, continue with their old ways of living, which is largely nomadic. Their chief way of livelihood is hunting - both in water and on land, their major preys are wild pigs, fish, berries and wild tubers.
Each Andaman and Nicobar ethnicity has an identity of its own. They differ from each other in socio-cultural life. The Mongoloid family and the Negrito family, the main two types of people in the union territory, are quite different from each other in terms of language and cultural heritage.
Demography of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The tribal people form a major portion of the total population of the Nicobar Islands. The Nicobarese are found in the Chowra, Car Nicobar, Teressa, Katchal, Bompoka, Trinkat, Camorta, Pulo Milo, Nancoury, Kondul, Little Nicobar and Great Nicobar islands. The Shompens live in the the coastal region and the river valleys of Great Nicobar. However, the groups of tribal ethnicity in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a minority of the total population of the Andaman Islands. The Jarawas, Great Andamanese, Onges and Sentinelese have distinctive dialects, which are quite different from each other.
The Great Andamanese are found in the Strait Island. The Sentinelese are found in the North Sentinel Island. The Jarawas are found on the western coast of middle and south Andaman. The Onge live in Little Andaman.
Last Updated on: 2nd April 2013
