The British brought ‘progress’ to the Great Andamanese by putting
them in a ‘home’ to give them a better way of life. Of 150 babies
born, all died before their third birthday. Overall, 99% of the tribe
died, leaving just 52 people today. They survive on handouts,
many have tuberculosis, and most men are alcoholics.
Their neighbours on the Andaman Islands, the Jarawa, have been on their land for around 60,000 years – five times longer
than the ancestors of the British have been in Britain. The Jarawa
have remained isolated and self-sufficient, and are still very healthy.
Their survival is now threatened by a road which cuts through
their land, bringing poachers and new diseases such as measles.
The Indian supreme court has ordered the road to be closed, but
the local administration has refused to comply, and it remains open.
Progress doesn’t have to kill. You can do something practical to help the Jarawa by simply writing a letter. It really works. Write a letter now using Survival’s online letter-writing tool »