The term “Negrito” refers to various indigenous ethnic groups across Southeast Asia and the Andaman Islands who share physical characteristics like short stature and dark skin. This label, a Spanish diminutive meaning “little black person,” is a contested classification rooted in colonial-era physical anthropology. In India, the term focuses almost entirely on the isolated tribal groups inhabiting the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. These communities are recognized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and represent some of the most ancient and isolated human populations on Earth.
The Andaman Islands: Specific Groups
The Andaman archipelago is home to four surviving groups traditionally classified as Andamanese Negritos, each with its own language and territory. The Great Andamanese population was drastically reduced due to colonial contact and disease; only a few dozen individuals remain, residing primarily on Strait Island. They have largely lost their distinct linguistic and cultural identity, with many now speaking Hindi.
The Onge tribe lives on Little Andaman Island, and their population is low, estimated at around 100 individuals. They have been settled by the administration and are dependent on external support.
The Jarawa inhabit the western coasts of South and Middle Andaman Islands, maintaining a nomadic existence within their designated reserve forest. Their numbers are estimated between 250 and 400 people, and they have had only intermittent contact with the outside world since the late 1990s.
The Sentinelese are the most isolated group, residing on North Sentinel Island. They fiercely resist all attempts at contact, making a precise census impossible, and remain almost entirely untouched by modern civilization.
Understanding Their Deep History
Genetic and anthropological evidence suggests the Andamanese tribes are descendants of the first major wave of modern human migration out of Africa, a dispersal event that occurred approximately 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. This theory, known as the Coastal Migration or Southern Route hypothesis, posits that early Homo sapiens followed the coastlines of Asia, eventually reaching the Andaman Islands. Their long-term isolation has preserved unique genetic signatures rarely found in other populations.
Mitochondrial DNA analysis shows that the Onge and Jarawa carry unique lineages, specifically haplogroups M31 and M32, distinct sub-branches of the pan-Asian haplogroup M. These markers suggest an ancient split from other Asian populations. The Y-chromosome DNA of the males, particularly haplogroup D, also points to an ancient origin linking them to the earliest waves of human dispersal.
Genomic studies indicate that the characteristic small stature of the Andamanese is a result of strong natural selection and island-specific adaptation, highlighting convergent evolution rather than direct inheritance from African pygmy populations.
Life and Culture in Isolation
The isolated tribes, particularly the Jarawa and Sentinelese, maintain a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle adapted to the dense rainforests and coastal waters. They are skilled in forest foraging, collecting wild roots, tubers, and honey, and they hunt wild pigs and monitor lizards using bows and arrows.
The ocean is a major source of sustenance; men fish in shallow waters using bows and arrows, while women collect mollusks and fish using baskets. The Sentinelese construct narrow outrigger canoes, which they propel with poles in the shallow, coral-fringed waters.
These groups live in temporary shelters or large communal huts, reflecting their nomadic movements. The languages spoken by the Andamanese, such as Jarawa and Onge, are considered linguistic isolates, meaning they cannot be clearly related to any other known language family.
Modern Protection and Ethical Concerns
The Indian government maintains a policy of non-interference and protection for the isolated tribes, recognizing their vulnerability to outside contact. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation of 1956 prohibits entry into designated tribal reserved areas and buffer zones. Unauthorized entry, including photography or filming the tribes, is a punishable offense with imprisonment.
Despite these safeguards, the tribes face threats from external encroachment, including poaching, illegal fishing, and infrastructure construction like the Andaman Trunk Road, which cuts through the Jarawa reserve. This road has facilitated illegal “human safaris,” where tourists attempt to interact with or photograph the Jarawa, exposing them to exploitation and infectious diseases.
Since the tribes possess little immunity to common diseases, contact poses a high risk, mirroring the devastation experienced by the Great Andamanese and Onge during the colonial era. The ethical debate centers on protecting their autonomy and land rights while balancing modern development and tourism pressures.
The Disputed Mainland Link
Historically, the term “Negrito” was applied beyond the Andaman Islands, leading to disputed claims of links with certain mainland Indian tribes, primarily in the South. Early 20th-century anthropologists, relying on physical traits like cranial measurements and hair texture, theorized that communities such as the Kadar of Kerala might represent genetic remnants of an ancient Negrito substratum.
Modern population genetics has largely invalidated the broad, outdated racial classification implied by the term “Negrito” and the idea of a cohesive mainland link. Genetic studies show that while mainland Indian populations are highly diverse, their genetic makeup differs significantly from the unique and isolated lineages of the Andamanese.
The physical similarities that led to the initial classification are now mostly attributed to convergent evolution in similar ecological environments. The Andamanese remain genetically and culturally distinct, representing an unparalleled case of long-term isolation in Asia.