People in Andaman & Nicobar
The
Andaman and Nicobar Islands were shrouded in mystery for centuries because of
their inaccessibility. These are the paragon of beauty and present a landscape
full with scenic and picturesque extravaganza. These islands shimmer like emeralds
in the Bay of Bengal. The dense forest which cover these islands and the innumerable
exotic flowers and birds create a highly poetic and romantic atmosphere. "Here
the white beaches on the edge of a meandering coastline have palm trees that
sway to the rhythm of the Sea. The beat of tribal drums haunt the stillness
and technicolour fish steer their way through crystal clear water." This
addition of strangeness to beauty which is responsible for creating the infinite
romantic impact may be described in the following famous lines of Keats.
"Charmed magic casement
opening on the foam
Of perilous seas in fair
lands forlorn."
The scenic beauty of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, would create a sense of
dissatisfaction and the human mind would rebel against "the whole mass
of the motley facts of life". He would be guided by an irresistible desire
to this paradise on earth, with invincible faith on the philosophy of Wordsworth:
"Our cheerful faith,
that all which we behold
is full of blessing".
The
unparalleled beauty of these islands, create in men a love of nature with a
caressing tenderness, a wistful fondness for all its delicate nuances. The enveloping
atmosphere with its subtle harmonies of light and shade, fragrance and exhales
the paradise, visionary splendours, and the music of the birds that defies definition
would develop creative and constructive feelings in the hearts of those people
who come here to enjoy the beauty of nature. He would like to rebel against
the stereotyped moulds and forms into which life is so called 'modernman' is
cast. He would be under the impact of the complex mood of infinite longing and
tragic helplessness, "the yearning that craves for expression, yet defies
expression, the inconclusive struggle between emotional apprehension of life
and the articulation that must transcend personal emotion".
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have great maritime importance. During the British
period political leaders considered dangerous to the interests of the Raj and
other dreaded criminals were deported from mainland to the Cellular Jail- the
Indian Bastille, situated on the sea coast of Atlanta Point in the North-Eastern
part of Port Blair. Thus these islands were infamously known as the 'Black Water
Prison' or 'Kala Pani'.
The Andaman & Nicobar are a group of picturesque Islands, big and small,
inhabited and uninhabited, a total of 572 islands, islets and rocks lying in
the South Eastern Part of the Bay of Bengal.They lie along an arc in long and
narrow broken chain, approximately North-South over a distance nearly 800 kms.
. It is logical to presume a former land connection form Cape Negris at South
part of Burma to Achin Head (Cape Pedro) in Andalas (Sumatra). The flora and
fauna of these islands, however, indicate that this land connection if it existed,
should have been prior to the development of their present life form.
