Mysterious North Sentinel Island
By Tony on April 27, 2009 | 10 Comments »
Without a doubt, the most fascinating island in the entire Andaman and Nicobar chain is the mysterious North Sentinel, an island off limits to both foreigners and Indians alike. The tribal North Sentinelese are considered by many to be the most isolated people on Earth. Most attempts by the Andaman tribal authorities to contact the North Sentinelese have been greeted with a very clear answer of angry arrows. Yikes! In response, the Indian government has stopped their attempts to contact the tribe. In 2006, Sentinelese archers killed two fisherman who were illegally fishing near the island. Clearly these people want to be left alone.
Very little is known about the North Sentinelese. No single word of their language has been recorded. Like the Onge, the Jarawa, and the Andamanese, the North Sentinelese are classified as negrito and look much more like Africans than Asians. They are believed to be some of the earliest peoples to have migrated across Asia. Virtually nothing is known or understood about their culture.
Since the tribal people of the Andamans are completely off-limits, a trip to the anthropological museum in Fort Blair is an absolute must. The tiny museum features a fascinating presentation of video footage of 60s and 70s expeditions to visit the Jarawa, Onge, Andamanese, Shompen and Nicobarese as well as – drumroll – early attempts to contact the North Sentinelese. If you don’t happen to be island hopping in the Andaman Sea, I’ve embedded a short Youtube video of this initial contact. Don’t miss this one!
Topics: India, Video | 10 Comments »
August 25th, 2010 at 5:54 am
I am really amazed that something like this is so close to India….and we have not tried to understand or communicate with this tribe.
October 25th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
who says we have not tried to communicate with them? do some searches on google and you will find that there were hundreds of attempts to communicate with them. Lots of gifts offered. They take the gifts and that’s it, any attempt to get any closer to them is met with arrows. Even fairly recently they killed 2 fishermen. Obviously they are NOT interested in communicating with us. If I had my family living on a beautiful island like theirs, personally I think I might do the same thing. Why would I want my island to be overrun with a bunch of greedy morons?
October 27th, 2010 at 3:00 am
Yes, we have seen photos of recent attempts to contact the North Sentinelese as well. I really wish everyone would just leave these people alone. Contact has certainly not helped the Jarawa, the Onge, or the Andamanese. And I think the North Sentinelese have made it clear that they want to be left alone.
November 19th, 2010 at 4:59 am
Why need to know about the ancient tribes of North Sentinel Island,why we should disturb them? They don’t want any help or any thing from ugly society of dirty civilization.
We people are talking tall but we are dirty and ugly too. We know destruction only and damage environment,nature and many more.
I believe,human being and so call civilized societies are most dangerous and cruel creature on earth.They are much better and wise.
Let them live freely and die according to their whim.Why disturb?
Not necessary.
Thanks
May 4th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
modern people weere just too curious about thier culture so most of the people wants to contact them. and of course, modern people are craving for popularity. the first one to contact these locals will be hailed like god. (which they dreamed about) and the island might have something to make them rich! lets face it! reality bites.
May 11th, 2011 at 9:36 am
They have been contacted on several occasions, but they don’t usually respond well. Normally, they answer with arrows.
July 11th, 2011 at 4:24 am
I say we should bom dem
November 10th, 2011 at 3:16 am
I say we take off and nuke the entire island from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
November 20th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
Re:
“I say we take off and nuke the entire island from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.”
Oh, what a good idea, you idiot! What would be the motive for your evil savagery? What would you be trying to accomplish, and why?
Re:”I say we should bom dem.”
I say you should learn how to spell (and probably speak).
December 19th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
James, I’m pretty sure both of those comments were meant to be sarcastic/tongue-in-cheek…