June 8, 2025 2:48 pm
Sub: Geography | Section: Human Geography
Why in News:
The Shompen tribe of the Nicobar Islands has come into the spotlight due to concerns over a major infrastructure project on Great Nicobar Island, which threatens their forest home. The project includes a transshipment container terminal, port, and solar power plant, raising environmental and anthropological concerns.
About Shompen Tribe:
The Shompen tribe is a semi-nomadic, forest-dwelling community that has inhabited the Great Nicobar Island for over 60,000 years. Unlike the coastal Nicobarese tribe, the Shompen live in the island’s interior, relying heavily on the forest for their sustenance.
- They are one of the most isolated Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India.
- Semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, they rely on hunting, gathering, fishing, and rudimentary horticulture.
- Their staple food is the pandanus fruit, and they speak their own language, often unintelligible even between bands.
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Do You Know? | The Shompen tribe is one of the least studied tribes in India, with much of their population still uncontacted by the outside world. |
| Background | The Shompen tribe has lived in isolation for over 60,000 years, largely avoiding interaction with the outside world. |
| Interesting Fact | The exact population of the Shompen is unknown, although the 2011 Census estimates it to be around 229. |
| Relevance | This issue is important for understanding the challenges of infrastructure development vs. tribal rights and environmental preservation in India’s remotest regions. |
