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Genetic Heritage of the Nicobarese

Last updated on December 7th, 2024 Posted on December 7, 2024 by NEXT IAS Current Affairs Team  173

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

 
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