SENTINELESE: INDIA’S UNSEEN CITIZENS AND THE LAWS THAT PROTECT THEM

एक ऐसे युग में जब दुनिया दिन-ब-दिन एक-दूसरे से अधिक जुड़ती जा रही है, बंगाल की खाड़ी में एक छोटा सा द्वीप आज भी आधुनिक सभ्यता से अछूता है। यह द्वीप सेंटिनली जनजाति का घर है, पृथ्वी की आखिरी कुछ अज्ञात जनजातियों में से एक। इन आदिवासी लोगों ने हजारों वर्षों से पूर्ण एकांत में जीवन व्यतीत किया है, और भारत सरकार ने उनकी निजता, सुरक्षा और जीवनशैली को सुरक्षित रखने के लिए विशेष कदम उठाए हैं। सेंटिनली लोग पृथ्वी पर सबसे अलग-थलग रहने वाले आदिवासी माने जाते हैं, लेकिन उनके दूर के पड़ोसी, शोम्पेन, भी सबसे अलग-थलग जनजातियों में से हैं। शोम्पेन केवल अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीपसमूह के दक्षिणतम भाग, ग्रेट निकोबार द्वीप पर रहते हैं और अधिकांश बाहरी लोगों से किसी भी प्रकार का संपर्क अस्वीकार करते हैं। “Survival International” नामक एक संगठन के अनुसार, जो 1970 के दशक में आदिवासी अधिकारों के वैश्विक आंदोलन से जुड़ा हुआ है, भारतीय अधिकारियों ने उत्तर सेंटिनल द्वीप पर समय-समय पर संपर्क स्थापित करने के प्रयास किए थे। ये प्रयास अक्सर उन गणमान्य व्यक्तियों की इच्छा पर किए जाते थे जो रोमांच की तलाश में होते थे। एक ऐसे ही दौरे में समुद्र तट पर दो सूअर और एक गुड़िया छोड़ी गई थी। सेंटिनली लोगों ने सूअरों को भालों से मार दिया और गुड़िया के साथ उन्हें दफना दिया।1980 के दशक में ऐसे दौरे अधिक नियमित हो गए। टीमें तीरों की पहुंच से दूर किसी स्थान पर उतरने की कोशिश करतीं और नारियल, केले और लोहे के टुकड़ों जैसे उपहार छोड़तीं। कभी-कभी सेंटिनली लोग मैत्रीपूर्ण इशारे करते थे; और कभी वे उपहारों को जंगल में ले जाकर संपर्क करने वाली टीम पर तीर चला देते थे।–Jay S Rawat

 

By- Jay Singh Rawat

In an age where the world is increasingly interconnected, a small island in the Bay of Bengal remains untouched by modern civilization, home to the Sentinelese, one of the last uncontacted tribes on Earth. These indigenous people have lived in complete isolation for thousands of years, and the Government of India has taken extraordinary steps to ensure their privacy, safety, and way of life are preserved. The Sentinelese are the most isolated Indigenous people on Earth but their distant neighbors, the Shompen, are also among the most isolated. Living only on the island of Great Nicobar in the southernmost part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, most Shompen rejects all contact with outsiders.

According to a publication of “Survival Internationa”, an organization committed to the global movement for indigenous tribal peoples’ rights during the 1970s the Indian authorities made occasional trips to North Sentinel in an attempt to befriend the Sentinelese. These were often at the behest of dignitaries who wanted an adventure. On one of these trips, two pigs and a doll were left on the beach. The Sentinelese speared the pigs and buried them, along with the doll. Such visits became more regular in the 1980s; the teams would try to land, at a place out of the reach of arrows, and leave gifts such as coconuts, bananas, and bits of iron. Sometimes the Sentinelese appeared to make friendly gestures; at other,s they would take the gifts into the forest and then fire arrows at the contact party.

A Tribe That Lives in the Past

The Sentinelese inhabit North Sentinel Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Believed to be among the world’s oldest surviving tribes, they follow a hunter-gatherer lifestyle with no known contact with modern tools or language. As per the 2011 Census, their population is estimated to be around 50, though no formal survey has ever been conducted due to their hostile response to outsiders.

Their fierce independence is not just cultural — it’s a matter of survival. Like other isolated tribes, the Sentinelese lack immunity to common diseases, making contact potentially fatal.

Laws That Act as a Protective Shield

To protect the Sentinelese and other tribal communities in the Andamans, several key laws and policies have been put in place:

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, declares tribal areas reserves and restricts entry.

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 – Offers legal protection against exploitation.

Foreigner (Restricted Area) Orders, 1963 and Visa Manual/Passport Act, 1920 – Restrict entry by foreigners and require special permissions.

Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Preserve the natural ecosystem the tribes depend upon.

A Zone Free of Interference

The entire North Sentinel Island, along with a 5-km coastal sea belt, has been declared a tribal reserve. No outsider — Indian or foreign — is allowed to enter. Even aerial or marine movement around the island is regulated.

The Indian government follows a strict “eyes-on, hands-off” policy. Surveillance is conducted by the Coast Guard, marine police, and forest authorities to ensure that poachers or tourists do not approach the island. No direct contact is made with the tribe.

Preventing Modern Encroachment

In addition to the Sentinelese, other tribes like the Jarawas, with a population of over 500, are also protected. Their areas are surrounded by buffer zones where all commercial and tourist activities are banned. Movement on roads like the Andaman Trunk Road, which passes through tribal areas, is regulated through a convoy system. Joint patrolling by the police, forest department, and tribal welfare societies helps in preventing any unauthorized contact.

Incidents and Challenges

Between 2013 and 2023, only one incident of confrontation with the Sentinelese was reported, compared to 19 incidents involving the Jarawas. This highlights the effectiveness of the government’s protection policies, though continuous vigilance is needed.

A Model of Respect

India’s approach to the Sentinelese is a rare example of a modern state recognizing the right of an ancient people to live on their own terms. Instead of integrating them into mainstream society, the government has chosen to protect their autonomy — even from well-meaning researchers or adventurers. In a world obsessed with development and progress, North Sentinel Island stands as a powerful reminder: sometimes, the best way to protect a culture is to leave it alone.

 

(Note- The writer of this article is a senior journalist and author of several books. He has authored two research books on Tribe. One of the books on tribes was published by The National Book Trust Of India and another book was published by “ Winsar Publishing Co.—Admin)