The Anthropological Survey of India (ANSI) has recently sounded an alarm in its policy document about a significant threat posed to the Sentinelese – a secluded tribe inhabiting the North Sentinel Island of the Andaman, by commercial endeavours. This stark warning comes on the heels of an incident involving the tragic demise of John Allen Chau, an American national who lost his life on the island nearly two years ago.
ANSI Guidelines on Protecting the Sentinelese
In the interest of safeguarding the Sentinelese, the ANSI recommends that any commercial or strategic exploitation of the North Sentinel Island must be staunchly opposed. It categorically states that the inhabitants’ right to their island is absolute and non-negotiable. They emphasise that it is incumbent on the state to guard these rights as inviolable.
Moreover, the ANSI asserts that the Sentinelese’s island shouldn’t be coveted for any commercial or strategic advantages. It also advocates for the construction of a knowledge bank about the Sentinelese tribe. Given that first-hand anthropological studies are infeasible with this community, the ANSI advises studying the Sentinelese culture remotely.
About the Sentinelese Tribe
The Sentinelese are a pre-neolithic, negrito tribe who inhabit the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans. They live in complete isolation from the world — their first contact with outsiders was in 1991 by Indian anthropologists. The census records for the Sentinelese, due to their isolation, are derived from long-range photographs taken of the island’s inhabitants. An estimated population of between 50 to 100 individuals lives on the North Sentinel Island.
Although no agricultural activities have been detected on the island, observations suggest that the Sentinelese sustain themselves as hunter-gatherers. Their methods of survival include fishing, hunting, and gathering wild plants native to the island.
In India, the Sentinelese are listed as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). This group also includes the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, and Shompens tribes. They are protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956. The regulations declare areas occupied by the tribes as reserves and prohibit unauthorised entry.
Anthropological Survey of India (ANSI)
Established in 1945, ANSI is a leading research institute for anthropological studies, specialising in bio-cultural subjects. It operates under the Ministry of Culture and has its headquarters in Kolkata with branches spread across various cities like Port Blair, Shillong, Dehradun, Udaipur, Nagpur, and Mysore — along with field stations at Jagdalpur and Ranchi.
The institute plays a vital role in studying the biological, social, and cultural heritage of India through comprehensive anthropological research. It offers advanced training in anthropology and acts as a repository for the preservation of artefacts and human skeletal remains—both modern and archaeological.
The Way Forward
Many academics propose a policy of “controlled contact” as the most beneficial course of action towards these communities, as opposed to outright isolation. The concept of “controlled contact” includes carefully managed interactions to prevent disease transmission, and simultaneously create a trust-based relationship. It also enables the provision of aid, medical help when essential, and government documentation of their way of life, culture preservation, and holistic development.