How the British Destroyed and a Treacherous Indian Betrayed the Greater Andamanese People And Drove Them to Extinction

 

How the British Destroyed and a Treacherous Indian Betrayed the Greater Andamanese People And Drove Them to Extinction

 Shrikant G Talageri 

 

In the light of various articles written by me about the Andamanese people – the First Hindus – I just saw a video on the Andaman island people, which I think every Hindu must see in full:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRWZwB3Vz3A 

But, as the title of my article makes clear, it is particularly about a Greater Andamanese tribe who were wiped out from existence by the British colonials (directly and by the introduction of new diseases) and an individual treacherous Indian named Dudhnath Tiwari.

 

The only point from the above video (which must be seen in full) that I will mention here, is the way the population of the Andamans dwindled within a couple of centuries:

1700s:  5000-6000.

1800s:  3000.

1901:   600.

1960s:  19.   

 

The above video also tells us about the treacherous Indian who betrayed one particular Greater Andamanese tribe, the Aka-bea tribe. Here is another account of this treachery and betrayal: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianHistory/comments/1me1jib/modo_lipa_the_deserted_bride_and_the_betrayal_of/

“Modo Lipa, The Deserted Bride, and the betrayal of Dudhnath Tiwari. Andaman Nicobar revolt against British in 1859 - Battle of Aberdeen.

On April 6, 1858, Dudhnath Tiwari, sepoy of the 14th Regiment and convict No. 276, arrived at Port Blair after being sentenced for mutiny at Jhelum . Just weeks later, on April 23, he escaped from the Ross Island penal settlement along with about 90 convicts using makeshift rafts tied with tent ropes . During their trek, they faced starvation and alien terrain; eventually encircled by native Andamanese warriors, most escapees were slain. Dudhnath survived only by feigning death after being struck by three arrows and was ultimately spared—and nursed—by the Aka‑Bea tribe.

Over the course of about a year, Tiwari integrated into the tribal community. He shaved his head, learned their language and customs, and even married a tribal woman - Modo Lipa (who even got pregnant) - gradually became a trusted one. While living among them, he learned of an impending tribal plan to attack Port Blair. In May 1859, as tribal warriors prepared to strike during what the British called the Battle of Aberdeen, Tiwari made a fateful choice: he slipped away from the tribal group during their march, and reached Superintendent Walker’s office to warn about the attack. Thanks to this intelligence, the British were forewarned, armed, and able to repel the assault.

When the British counterattacked, the rebels—including Modo Lipa—were swiftly crushed. Many were captured or killed; survivors faced executions, lifelong chains, and brutal imprisonment. The revolt was crushed, and hopes and lives shattered. In stark contrast, Dudhnath Tiwari was pardoned—on October 5, 1860, he received a free pardon and was eventually repatriated to India. When he returned—later in 1866—some tribal women still recognized and cursed him for abandoning Modo Lipa. The community even renamed his wife “Modo Lipa” meaning ‘deserted bride'. It was believed she was never approached by the tribe's men as her husband wasn't dead and she lived whole life as a symbol of betrayal and deserted wife. The Aka‑Bea tribe following their struggle went extinct in 1931.”

 

 

The only Andamanese tribal peoples who have remained secure from the treacherous outside world, at least till today, are the people of the North Sentinel island: the “Sentinelese”, The video tells us about this tribe as well, and about the Chinese-American Christian convert, John Allen Chau, who went on the island and was killed by the Sentinelese people on 17 November 2018 (almost exactly seven years ago) and whose body has never been recovered.

 

I have related this whole disgusting incident in my article:

https://talageri.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-andaman-islanders-and-indian.html

And, in my article “The Twelve Indian Political Figures I Respect and Admire the Most” (although in one or two of the cases, in respect of still-living politicians, I have had to eat my words to some extent), I have included in my list (and I know I will never have to eat my words in this case) that great Sentinelese warrior (though not exactly a “political figure”): “The unknown, unnamed Sentinelese tribal who shot an arrow and killed the American missionary boy of Chinese origin in November 2018”.