Onge Communal hut on little Andaman Island

The Onge
The hunting-gathering communities, the Onge being one of them, are typical representatives of the simplest level of human culture existing in the world. Little Andaman island has been the Onge's home from time immemorial. Earlier, their movements were confined to the island with occasional forays to other islands in their dug-out out-rigger canoes.

They have been in regular contact with outsiders for over a century. For long, they successfully evaded all attempts at contact with the outsiders. Despite their resistance, they were disturbed and were left in a state of destitution for a considerable period of time. In 1967, Little Andaman was opened up for settlement for people from outside. For the first time, the small and fragile population of 98 Onges have started living face to face with several thousand people. This had a far-reaching impact on their life and future.

The Great Andamanese
Today, the small population of only 36 isall that remains of the ten original Great Andamanese tribes that were spread out all over the Great Andaman which comprises South Andaman, Middle Andaman, North Andaman and all the interlying islands. They were a virile and strongly built people who were highly suspicious of outsiders, especially the kind that cut down the forests, disturb their tribal life and the peace of the islands. The population on the South Andaman were the first to come in contact with the colonial authority in the penal settlements founded in 1858. As the settlements spread northwards to the Middle and North Andaman Islands, conflict intensified. Eventually friendly contacts were established with each of the tribes. However, the resulting close physical association led to the spread of new diseases brought in by outside people. Death and devastation followed on a large scale. The population continued dwindling leading to social disorganization of these once proud communities. In 1968, the Administration resettled the surviving populations on the Strait Island. The Government has been looking nafter them ever since.

The Jarawa
A small tribe of around 200 people, the Jarawas inhabit the west coast of the South Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands. They are classic hunter-gatherers and live on whatever forest produce they gather. They hunt animals but not birds. Because of their un-friendly stance, little that is known of their social life is based on limited observation.

They do not have friendly relations with outsiders including those settled near their habitat. Despite the odds, they have not yielded to the overtures by outsiders. After Independence (1947), an area of about 765 sq. km in the South Andaman and Middle Andaman islands was declared as the Jarawa Reserve Forests to protect them and their hunting-gathering economy. However, the settling of displaced persons in their vicinity, with the accompanying clearing of forests, had unsettling effect on them, heightening their feeling of insecurity. As a result, their forays into settlers' areas continue.

The Sentinelese
Of all the tribal societies in India and the rest of the world, the Sentinelese (estimated population around 250) are perhaps the most isolated and the most untouched culturally and biologically. They live on the small island of North Sentinel, off the west coast of South Andaman island. They are, by all evidence, a true hunting-gathering society with considerable reliance on sea resources, and appear to have close cultural identity with the three Negrito tribes. They are highly suspicious of outsiders. Because of their sensitivity in this regard, there is no administrative presence on this island.