Nicobar district, which is one of three districts in the Indian Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has its administrative territory encompassing all of the Nicobar Islands, located in the Indian Ocean Bay of Bengal, bordering with the Andaman Sea. The total area covered by this district is 1841 sq km. Car Nicobar is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district administration is headed by a Deputy Commissioner, who is ultimately accountable to the Lt. Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is having the fifth least population the country.
Car Nicobar, which is 143 miles from Port Blair, is situated at the northernmost part of the group of islands and is separated by the ten degree channel which is about 75 miles away from Little Andaman. The central group of Nicobar islands comprises of Chowra, Teressa, Bompoka, Katchal, Kamorta, Nancowry and Trinket whereas the southern group comprises of Pulo Milo, Little Nicobar, Kondul, Great Nicobar etc. Indira Point, which was previously known as Pygmalion Point is the extreme southern point of Great Nicobar. It is situated at about 91 geographical miles from Pulo Brass of Achin Head of Sumatra. Batti Malv, Tileangchong and Meroe, Trak, Treis, Menchal and Kabra respectively are the uninhabited islands in the central and southern group. Stretched over 36 miles, the Nicobars have an aggregate of 635 sq. miles.
Nicobar History
As a consequence of World War II, the island was occupied by the Japanese in the year 1942-45, causing great upheaval in the mind of the people. It was under British rule for a brief time period and achieved independence as an integral part of the Republic of India on 15th August 1947, as they have been part of the old British Empire of India. John Richardson was sworn in as Bishop in 1950. He was nominated as a Member of Parliament to represent Andaman and Nicobar islands for the first time. Thus he is also considered as the modern architect of Nicobarese society.
Post- independence the Government was keen to protect the interests of the Nicobarese people and did not allow outside traders to exploit the people. The regulation for the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes came into existence in 1956 under which entry to the Nicobar Islands was strictly prohibited. However in the late sixties the Administration started settlement of non-tribals in this group of islands, on the model of the Andmans. 330 ex-defense personnel were settled in some de-reserved areas of Great Nicobar Island, where Panchayat System exists presently. Some plantation workers from Tamil Nadu were also brought in mid 70s for engaging in rubber plantation works in Katchal Island. Consequently, due to increase in population, 165 Car-Nicobari families were resettled in 1973-74 to Little Andaman Island.
Nicobar group of islands was formally declared as a separate district with its headquarters at Car Nicobar on 1st August, 1974. Half of the population exists in Car Nicobar. Except three Panchayats and one Panchayat Samiti in Great Nicobar, rest of the District is still following its own local traditional Tribal Councils.
Nicobars Climate
The weather is damp and warm all the year round. Owing to the soothing sun, the nights may be chilly. The temperature ranges from 65 to 98 degrees in the shade. Annual rainfall of 90 to 170 inches is experienced. It is considerably more on Great Nicobar and most of the rain falls during the South West Monsoon. The monsoon sets in at the end of May or beginning of June. Strong south-westerly winds with heavy squalls are current till September. Easterly winds start from November till April, usually beginning from the south-east and veering round to the north-east. During October and from February to April, the climate is usually calm. Cyclones are also sometimes experienced, but as a rule, the cyclones, which reverse the Bay of Bengal, originate north of the Nicobars and do not affect these islands.
Normal rainfall : 2750 mm
Temperature : 22 deg - 32 deg.
Relative humidity : 70%
Nicobar Culture
People live in large joint family called The "TUHET", which is mostly prevalent in Car Nicobar. The nuclear family is more dominant in central and southern Nicobar. The tuhet is not just a homestead as the people living in different areas of a village are united for all practical and social purposes under the banner of the Tuhet. The art & culture of Nicobarese are in resemblance with their environment & needs. Their large seafaring canoes are so skillfully built that they are lighted and easily carried as each is made of a piece of carefully hollowed wood.
