Port Blair, July 5: Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre of Anthropological Survey of India, Port Blair conducted a one-day seminar on “Tribal People of A&N Islands and their Role in the Freedom Struggle” on 5th July, 2022 as a part of major celebration under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. This seminar was conducted under the august presence of several dignitaries of Anthropological Survey of India with a specific focus on the Battle of Aberdeen. This Mahotsav is dedicated to such forms of struggle which has been instrumental in bringing our country to independence in 1947. The inspirational journey of such historical battle aided in the evolutionary journey and reinforces patriotism in the minds of Indians.
The inaugural session started with the welcoming of the dignitaries, lighting of the Lamp, Felicitation of the Guests. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Umesh Kumar, Head of Office, Anthropological Survey of India, followed by a keynote address from Dr. M. Sasikumar, Director-in-Charge, Anthropological Survey of India, and an address by our Chief Guest Shri. Gauri Shankar Pandey on the history of the Islands and its indigenous people. These addresses were sui generis in their essence and invoked a sense of patriotism hearing the stories associated with the Battle of Aberdeen which occurred on 17 May, 1859.
The first academic session was chaired by Shri S.A. Awardi of this particular seminar. In this session, the first lecture was delivered by Dr. Prem Krishna, former President Local Born Association, Port Blair, wherein he vividly elaborated on the medical situation of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This lecture was followed by Shri Ahmed Mujtaba, Retired Principal, who spoke on the early history of the Port Blair and the Battle of Aberdeen and its augmentation into a larger struggle. At the end of the first academic session a grass root level interaction was done with the localities involving populaces from the Great Andamanese and Nicobarese people to voice their opinion in this seminar.
The second academic session was similarly effective in dispersion of knowledge related to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This session was chaired by Dr. Amit Kumar Ghosh, Superintending Anthropologist wherein a special lecture was delivered by Shri Anstice Justin, Deputy Director (Retd.), Anthropological Survey of India, A&N Regional Centre on the experiences associated with the seminal works which was carried on Nicobarese tribes during his time period. This session was trailed by a special lecture delivered by Prof. V. Jochibed, Principal (in-Charge), Andaman College on the Nicobarese tribe and their association with the historic battle of Aberdeen. In the end, a vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Nilanjan Khatua, Head of Office, Anthropological Survey of India, A&N Regional Centre at the end of our one-day seminar on “Tribal People of A&N Islands and Their Role in the Freedom Struggle”.
The one-day seminar was well attended physically by numerous scholars, dignitaries from different walks of life across India, Great Andamanese & Nicobarese tribal People considering our upcoming celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence on 15th August, 2022. All the norms of physical distancing and COVID-19 SOPs were followed during the entirety of the aforesaid programme.