History of Andaman & Nicobar islands

The name Andaman originated from Hindu God Hanuman, Handuman in Malay. Nicobar is land of naked people in Malay. The first inhabitants of this land must be atleast 2,200 years before, however there are few evidences, which is an enigma of human existance on this island is since 30,000 to 60,000. The base inhabitanats of the Andaman and Nicobar Island are Andamanese. The maintained their identity until 1980s, when they came in contact with outside indigenous group of people, such as the Jarawa, the Jangil or also known as the Rutland Jarawa, the Onge, and the Sentinelese. Similarly, the inhabitants of Nicobar islands were Nicobarese and the were encountered with the Shompens, who were retricted to the interiors of Nicobar.

Initially, when British colonize the island in 1789, they were soon thrown out in 1796. However, in 1858 British again colonized these islands and continued to rule until the Japanese conquered the island during the World War II. During the British rule, the government use to imprison lots of freedom fighters at a place called Kalapani in Andaman. This imprisonment was the most cruel and torturous. Under the nominal rule by the Arzi Hukumate Azad Hind of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose the islands were renamed to “Shaheed” and “Swaraj”. After India became independent, in 1947, Andaman and Nicobar also achieved their independence. However, it only became a Union Territory of India in 1950.

Recently on 26 December 2004, the isle witnessed a massive Indian Ocean earthquake resulting in 10 meter high tsunami, which killed around 7,000 people and injured many of them. The disaster did not end here. There was a humongous economic loss and many lost their houses.