Syllabus: GS1/ Human Geography
Context
- A recent genetic study has revealed that the 25,000-strong Nicobarese population has significant ancestral connections with Austroasiatic populations of South and Southeast Asia.
Key Findings of the Study
- Austroasiatic Connection: The study revealed that the Nicobarese population shares genetic affinity with the ‘Htin Mal’ population in mainland Southeast Asia, who speak an Austroasiatic language.
- The Htin Mal community has remained ethnically distinct while exhibiting a pronounced genetic drift from the Nicobarese.
- Timeframe of Migration: Earlier theories placed the migration of the Nicobarese linguistic ancestors to the early Holocene period (about 11,700 years ago).
- The new study dates the Nicobarese migration to approximately 4,500–5,000 years ago.
- Genetic Drift and Isolation: The Nicobarese show distinct genetic signatures, which reflect long-term isolation on the islands.
| Major Ethnic and Linguistic Groups in the World – Austroasiatic Group: One of the oldest linguistic families in Asia, believed to have originated in southern China. 1. Examples: Khmer in Cambodia, Vietnamese in Vietnam, Htin Mal in Thailand and Santhal, Ho, and Munda tribes in eastern India. – Indo-European Group: The largest linguistic family globally, originating from the Pontic-Caspian Steppe (Eurasia) about 6,000–8,000 years ago. 1. Indo-Aryan: Hindi, Bengali, and Punjabi speakers in South Asia. 2. Iranian: Persians in Iran and Pashtuns in Afghanistan. 3. European: English, German, Spanish, French and Dutch. – Sino-Tibetan Group: The second-largest language family, originating in China around 5,000 years ago. 1. Chinese: Mandarin, Cantonese, and other dialects spoken across China. 2. Tibeto-Burman: Tibetan (Tibet), Burmese (Myanmar), and Naga tribes in Northeast India. – Niger-Congo Group: The largest language family in Africa, covering a significant part of the continent. 1. Bantu Subgroup: Swahili, Zulu, and Xhosa speakers across Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. 2. Other Groups: Yoruba and Igbo in Nigeria, Wolof in Senegal. – Dravidian Group: An ancient linguistic family in the Indian subcontinent. 1. Examples: Tamil (Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka), Telugu (Andhra Pradesh), Kannada (Karnataka), and Malayalam (Kerala). – Austronesian Group: They are spread across Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands, and Madagascar. 1. Malay-Polynesian: Tagalog (Philippines), Malay (Malaysia), Javanese (Indonesia). 2. Pacific: Hawaiian, Maori (New Zealand), and Samoan (Samoa). 3. Malagasy: Madagascar (Indian Ocean). |
Significance of the study
- The research provides new insights into the timeline of Nicobarese population settlement, revising previous assumptions.
- It also highlights the interplay between migration, isolation, and cultural evolution that has shaped the unique identity of the Nicobarese tribe in the Nicobar archipelago.
| Nicobar Islands – The Nicobar Islands, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory, are situated in the eastern Indian Ocean, south of the Andaman Islands. – The Nicobar archipelago comprises seven large islands and numerous smaller ones. These islands are categorized into three major sub-groups: 1. Northern Group: Includes Car Nicobar, the administrative capital of the Nicobar Islands. 2. Central Group: Consists of islands like Nancowry, Kamorta, Katchal, and Teressa. 3. Southern Group: Includes Great Nicobar, the largest and southernmost island of the Nicobar archipelago. |
Source: TH
Read our detailed guide on The Indian Islands: The Andaman & Nicobar Islands, & The Lakshadweep Islands
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