Exploring North Sentinel Island – An Uninhabited Island in the Andaman Sea

INTRODUCTION

North Sentinel Island has captivated the curiosity of travellers and historians for centuries. Located in the Bay of Bengal, this small, isolated island is home to a very isolated and independent community – the Sentinelese.

The Sentinelese are one of the last remaining tribes of the Andaman Islands, and for centuries have fiercely defended their island from intruders. They have no known contact with the outside world, no electricity or running water, and are among the last societies left in the world that have no contact with the modern world.

HISTORY

The island has a long history of mystery and intrigue, with its name “Sentinel” coming from the Latin word for “guard” or “watchman”. It is believed that the Sentinelese may have been the descendants of shipwrecked sailors, stranded on the island centuries ago.

The Sentinelese are reputed to be hostile to outsiders, and it is illegal for anyone to attempt to make contact with them. The Indian Government has declared a 3-mile exclusion zone around the island to protect the safety of the tribe.

Despite the danger in visiting the island, explorers and researchers from around the world are often drawn to the mysteries of North Sentinel Island and its inhabitants. Some researchers have made attempts to observe the tribe and its culture from a distance.

RESEARCHES

The island has been the subject of many books and documentaries, including the 2004 National Geographic film, “The Lost Tribe of the Andamans”. For those looking to explore the mysteries of the island, it is best to do so from a distance and not risk endangering the Sentinelese.

The island has been inhabited for millennia, with archaeological evidence showing that the island was settled as early as 9900 BC. It is believed that the Sentinelese may be the descendants of shipwrecked sailors, stranded on the island centuries ago.

The island is virtually inaccessible to outsiders due to its lack of roads or navigable rivers, and the Sentinelese are known to be fiercely protective of the island and its inhabitants. Outsiders who have attempted to visit the island have often encountered hostility.

Despite being almost completely unknown to the outside world, North Sentinel Island has captured the imagination of many adventurers, explorers, and researchers. In 2018, a team of researchers from the National Geographic Society used a drone to capture footage of the island and its inhabitants from the air.

The island is a protected area of India and access is restricted to protect the remaining tribal community from outsiders. The population of the island is estimated to be around 50 to 200 people and they are the descendants of the first human populations in Africa.

The Sentinelese are hunter-gatherers who live on fruits, vegetables, and small game. They use iron-tipped arrows and spears to hunt. They have no known contact with the outside world, no electricity or running water, and are among the last societies left in the world that have no contact with the modern world.

In 2004, the island was devastated by an earthquake, but the Sentinelese were able to survive by moving to higher ground.

The Sentinelese have repeatedly attacked approaching vessels, whether the boats were intentionally visiting the island or simply ran aground on the surrounding coral reef.

INDIAN GOVERNMENT

The Indian government has been working to protect and preserve North Sentinel Island for many years. The island is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Island chain in the Bay of Bengal and is home to the Sentinelese, an indigenous people in voluntary isolation who fiercely defend their protected isolation from the outside world.

The Indian government declared a 3-mile exclusion zone around the island to protect the safety of the tribe, and access is restricted to protect the remaining tribal community from outsiders.

In 2018, the government of India excluded 29 islands – including North Sentinel – from the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) regime, in a major effort to boost tourism.

The Indian Navy patrols the island and keeps a close watch on the tribe by monitoring their movements from a safe distance. In addition, the Indian government has set up a medical camp and provided medical services for the tribe.

The Indian government has also taken steps to ensure that any outsiders who visit the island do so in a respectful and non-threatening manner. Over the years, the government has passed special laws and regulations to ensure that the Sentinelese are able to remain in voluntary isolation and enjoy the same rights and protections as any other citizen of India.

JOHN INCIDENT

In November 2018, 26-year-old American missionary John Allen Chau was killed by the Sentinelese, the indigenous people of North Sentinel Island in India. The island is a protected area and access is restricted to protect the remaining tribal community from outsiders.

John took an local fisherman and his boat by giving him large amount of money to drop him near the island but then also the fisherman dropped him nearly 5 km away from the island.

Chau had participated in 'boot camp' missionary training by the Kansas City-based evangelical organization All Nations, which included navigating a mock native village populated by missionary staff members who pretended to be hostile natives, wielding fake spears. Chau expressed a clear desire to convert the tribe and was aware of the legal and mortal risks he was taking by his efforts.

The fishermen who were back in the dinghy saw an arrow hit him. Later they said he was taken deeper [into the island] and buried.

Chau was killed by the tribe who inhabit the island and his death has sparked debate in the Christian community on the ethics of missionary work, and the legality of the actions of All Nations and the Indian government in allowing him to travel to the island