Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Indigenous island histories precede penal-colony rule; the Cellular Jail became a major site of anti-colonial memory. The archipelago contains distinct Indigenous histories that long predate colonial settlement. The British penal colony and the Cellular Jail became sites of anti-colonial memory. Later migration created multilingual settlements, but settler histories should never substitute for the identities and rights of Indigenous island communities.

An island archipelago with unique Indigenous communities, layered colonial history and rich marine ecosystems. Nicobarese and other island communities have their own knowledge, religious practices and relationships with sea and land. Public settler celebrations also draw on Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and other regional traditions. These are different cultural histories, not a single island lifestyle. Protected communities and restricted islands are not visitor attractions. Respecting legal exclusions, avoiding unauthorised contact and protecting marine ecosystems are essential; a desire to learn about heritage never justifies intrusion.