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'{{Short description|Aspect of history in India}} The [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] is an archipelago of 572 islands of which 37 are inhabited. It is a [[union territory]] of [[India]]. == First inhabitants == The earliest [[Archaeology|archaeological]] evidence documents some 2,210 years ago. However, [[Genetics|genetic]] and [[Culture|cultural]] studies suggest that the indigenous [[Andamanese peoples|Andamanese]] people may have been isolated from other populations during the [[Middle Paleolithic]], which ended 30,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Palanichamy|first1=Malliya G.|last2=Agrawal|first2=Suraksha|last3=Yao|first3=Yong-Gang|last4=Kong|first4=Qing-Peng|last5=Sun|first5=Chang|last6=Khan|first6=Faisal|last7=Chaudhuri|first7=Tapas Kumar|last8=Zhang|first8=Ya-Ping|year=2006|title=Comment on 'Reconstructing the Origin of Andaman Islanders'|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]]|volume=311|issue=5760|pages=470|doi=10.1126/science.1120176|pmid=16439647|doi-access=free}}</ref> that time, the Andamanese have diversified into linguistically and culturally distinct, territorial groups. The Nicobar Islands appear to have been populated by people of various backgrounds. By the time of European contact, the indigenous inhabitants had coalesced into the [[Nicobarese people]], speaking multiple [[Mon-Khmer]] languages; and the [[Shompen people|Shompen]], whose language is of uncertain affiliation. Both are unrelated to the Andamanese, but being closely related to the [[Austroasiatic]] languages in mainland Southeast Asia. == Chola empire period == {{See also|Andaman Tamils}} [[Rajendra Chola II]] (1051 to 1063 AD), used the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a strategic naval base to launch an expedition against the [[Srivijaya|Sriwijaya Empire]] (Indonesia). The [[Cholas]] called the island Ma-Nakkavaram ("great open/naked land"), found in the [[Thanjavur]] inscription of 1050 AD. European traveller [[Marco Polo]] (12th–13th century) also referred to this island as 'Necuverann' and a corrupted form of the Tamil name Nakkavaram would have led to the modern name Nicobar during the British colonial period.<ref name="goi1908">{{Cite book |author=Government of India|year=1908|title=The Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Local Gazetteer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrwBAAAAYAAJ|publisher=Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta|quote=''... In the great Tanjore inscription of 1050 AD, the Andamans are mentioned under a translated name along with the Nicobars, as '''Nakkavaram''' or land of the naked people. FUCK YOU AND LOVE YOU }}</ref> ==Maratha imperial period== {{See also |Maratha Empire}} The islands became a temporary shipping port of the [[Maratha Empire]] and its [[Maratha Navy|navy]] in the 17th century. The Maratha admiral [[Kanhoji Angre]] established a basic naval dominance in the islands and played a role in the annexation of the islands to India.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kukreja |first1=Air Marshal Dhiraj |title=Andaman and Nicobar Islands: A security challenge for India |url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-a-security-challenge-for-india/ |access-date=24 November 2021 |work=Indian Defence Review |date=1 January 2013}}</ref> == Danish colonial period and British rule == The history of organised European [[colonisation]] on the islands began when settlers from the [[Danish East India Company]] arrived in the Nicobar Islands on 12 December 1755. On 1 January 1756, the Nicobar Islands were made a Danish colony, first named New Denmark,<ref name="worldstatesmen.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_BrProvinces.htm|title=Provinces of British India|author=ben cahoon|publisher=Worldstatesmen.org|access-date=2013-07-08}}</ref> and later (December 1756) Frederick's Islands (''Frederiksøerne''). During 1754–1756 they were administrated from [[Tranquebar]] (in continental [[Danish India]]). The islands were repeatedly abandoned due to outbreaks of malaria between 14 April 1759 and 19 August 1768, from 1787 to 1807/05, 1814 to 1831, 1830 to 1834 and gradually from 1848 for good.<ref name="worldstatesmen.org" /> [[File:Andaman_tribals_fishing_(c._1870).jpg|alt=|left|thumb|Andaman tribals fishing (c. 1870)]] From 1 June 1778 to 1784, [[Austria]] mistakenly assumed that Denmark had abandoned its claims to the Nicobar Islands and attempted to [[Austrian colonisation of Nicobar Islands|establish a colony]] on them,<ref name="ColVoy">{{cite web|url=http://www.colonialvoyage.com/DanishP.html|title=Chronology of Danish Colonial Settlements|last=Ramerini|first=Marco|publisher=ColonialVoyage.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404001731/http://www.colonialvoyage.com/DanishP.html|archive-date=4 April 2005|url-status=dead|access-date=16 November 2010}}</ref> renaming them Theresia Islands.<ref name="worldstatesmen.org" /> In 1789 the British set up a naval base and penal colony on Chatham Island next to Great Andaman, where now lies the town of [[Port Blair]]. Two years later the colony was moved to [[Port Cornwallis]] on Great Andaman, but it was abandoned in 1796 due to disease. [[Denmark]]'s presence in the territory ended formally on 16 October 1868 when it sold the rights to the Nicobar Islands to Britain,<ref name="ColVoy" /> which made them part of [[British India]] in 1869. [[File:Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar.JPG|alt=|thumb|The [[Cellular Jail]] was a colonial prison used to exile political prisoners.]] In 1858 the British again established a colony at Port Blair, which proved to be more permanent. The primary purpose was to set up a [[penal colony]] for criminal convicts from the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The colony came to include the infamous [[Cellular Jail]]. In 1872 the Andaman and Nicobar islands were united under a single chief commissioner at Port Blair. == World War II == {{main|Japanese occupation of the Andaman Islands}}During [[World War II]], the islands were practically under Japanese control, only nominally under the authority of the [[Arzi Hukumate Azad Hind]] of [[Subhash Chandra Bose]]. Bose visited the islands during the war, and renamed them as "Shaheed-dweep" (Martyr Island) and "Swaraj-dweep" (Self-rule Island). [[File:The_British_Occupation_of_the_Nicobar_Islands,_1945_SE5438.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|Japanese military delegation salute Lieutenant Colonel [[Nathu Singh Rathore|Nathu Singh]], commanding officer of the [[Rajput Regiment]], following their surrender of the Islands, 1945 CE.]] General [[A. D. Loganathan|Loganathan]], of the [[Indian National Army]] was made the Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. On 22 February 1944 he along with four INA officers—Major Mansoor Ali Alvi, Sub. Lt. Md. Iqbal, Lt. Suba Singh and stenographer Srinivasan—arrived at [[Lambaline Airport]] in [[Port Blair]]. On 21 March 1944 the Headquarters of the Civil Administration was established near the [[Gurudwara]] at Aberdeen Bazaar. On 2 October 1944, Col. [[A. D. Loganathan|Loganathan]] handed over the charge to Maj. Alvi and left Port Blair, never to return.<ref>Roychowdhury, Rabin. "Black Days in Andaman and Nicobar Islands", Manas, New Delhi.</ref> Japanese Vice Admiral Hara Teizo, and Major-General Tamenori Sato surrendered the islands to Brigadier J A Salomons, commander of [[116th Indian Infantry Brigade]], and Chief Administrator Mr Noel K Patterson, Indian Civil Service, on 7 October 1945, in a ceremony performed on the Gymkhana Ground, Port Blair. == Post-Independence (1947 CE – present) == During the independence of both [[India]] (1947) and [[Burma]] (1948), the departing British announced their intention to resettle all [[Anglo-Indians]] and [[Anglo-Burmese people|Anglo-Burmese]] on these islands to form their own nation, although this never materialized. It became part of [[India]] in 1950 and was declared as a [[union territory]] of the nation in 1956.<ref name="Planning Commission Report">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ujf2N5O4iKgC|title=Andaman and Nicobar Islands Development Report|author=Planning Commission of India|publisher=Academic Foundation|year=2008|isbn=978-81-7188-652-4|edition=illustrated|series=State Development Report series|access-date=12 March 2011}}</ref> India has been developing defense facilities on the islands since the 1980s. The islands now have a key position in India's strategic role in the Bay of Bengal and the Malacca Strait.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/7716140|title=India's Defence Strategy and the India-ASEAN Relationship. Retrieved 24 August 2014|author=David Brewster}}</ref> === 2004 Asian tsunami === On 26 December 2004, the coasts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were devastated by a {{convert|10|m|abbr=on}} massive [[tsunami]] following the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|undersea earthquake off Indian Ocean]]. More than 2,000 people lost their lives, more than 4,000 children were orphaned or suffered the loss of one parent, and a minimum of 40,000 people were rendered homeless. More than 46,000 people were injured.<ref name="TCLEE 30">{{cite book|url=http://www.asce.org/Product.aspx?id=2147486137&productid=5511|title=Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake and Tsunami of December 6, 2004: Lifeline Performance|publisher=ASCE, Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering|year=2007|isbn=9780784409510|editor=Carl Strand and John Masek|location=Reston, VA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024115815/http://www.asce.org/Product.aspx?id=2147486137&productid=5511|archive-date=24 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The worst affected Nicobar islands were [[Katchal Island|Katchal]] and [[Indira Point]]; the latter subsided {{convert|4.25|m|abbr=off}} and was partially submerged in the ocean. The lighthouse at Indira Point was damaged but has been repaired since then. The territory lost a large amount of area which is now submerged. The territory which was at [[States and union territories of India|Indian states]] {{convert|8073|km2|abbr=on}} is now at {{convert|7950|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>[[Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on India]]</ref> While locals and tourist of the islands suffered the greatest casualties from the tsunami, most of the aboriginal people survived because oral traditions passed down from generations ago warned them to [[Emergency evacuation|evacuate]] from large waves that follow large earthquakes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4181855.stm|title=Tsunami folklore 'saved islanders'|date=20 January 2005|work=BBC News|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> == References == === Notes === {{Reflist|group=note}} === Citations === {{Reflist}}{{History of India by State}} [[Category: History of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands| ]] [[Category: Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]'