President of India Inaugurates ANTRI

Port Blair, Jan. 12: ThePresident of India, Pranab Mukherjee today inaugurated the ‘Andaman & Nicobar Tribal Research Institute’ (ANTRI), set up with an idea to preserve the tradition and culture of the tribal groups of A&N Islands through a museum, to act as reference for the researchers and tribals themselves. ANTRI was set up after due consultation with the aborigines, who felt the need to preserve and pass on the traditional knowledge to their future generations. 

Congratulating Anthropologist Prof. Vishwajit Pandya for conceptualizing the Tribal Research, Pranab Mukherjee said that the product of the research should be able to act as instrument of policy formulation and policy guidance.    

“When we read different aspect of works in the tribal museum, I find it significant, which was elaborated in details that we would like to tell them their stories and in that process enabling them to identify what they need, their shortcomings and in what manner these shortcomings would be sorted out, where their absorption and their involvement could be total”, Mukherjee said.

Dwelling on the two theories of assimilation and isolation, Mukherjee cleared that the fact is assimilation has failed in the sense that many of the important species have totally gone, completely vanished and totally perished.

Referring to a book by Dr. Sharma, mentioning attempts made by the British (diaries written by the British officers) to tackle the Jarawa, Mukherjee said, in the process to tackle the Jarawa some of them were killed. They wanted to capture one of them to study anthropology, ecologically and various aspects but ultimately it ended, as neither of them could do it. Some of their colleagues lost their lives and attempts were even made to use the Andamanese tribes to approach the Jarawa.

He further said that construction of roads and bridges are not going to have the conceptualization of the Tribal Integration with our society unless it comes from them.

“When I was in the Govt. I was told that they have to be mainstreamed as their sources of drinking water is seriously affected”, Mukherjee said referring to the Jarawa tribe.

“Sometimes they don’t want to come but they are forced to come. Whether our mode of drinking water would satisfy them or not”, is the question he said. He also stated that instead of deciding ourselves, research should be able to guide the policy makers and implementers on what should be the essential ingredients of the policy and how to effectively implement it without affecting the tribes or introducing something alien which is not natural to their instincts, their own self and own perception. If we want to thrust on them, it would be disastrous, he said.

On the development that took place among the tribals over a period of time, Mukherjee said, it was correctly pointed out that they do not remain as they were few centuries ago. They have also changed in their own way. Therefore a policy should be formulated in such a way that it can be suitably adjusted according to the changes.

While appreciating the concept of ANTRI, Mukherjee said that the institution should be totally free from commercialization and other types of mercantile activities. It should not sell the collected materials for the museum as a product for tourist attraction and thereafter bring commercialization and mass production into picture. The objective should be to study how these things have developed over centuries and how they adapted to the changes.

“If we can have this approach, I feel you will do a great job because many of these tribes have become extinct”, he said.

Referring to the Andamanese, including Onge, Sentinelese, Jarawas Mukherjee said that their numbers are dwindling. He requested the Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray to take the lead as he is a representative.

“Though they do not know, what Parliament is and, what is the job of a Member of Parliament but it is his job to protect them in their own ways, in their own environment and in their own circumstances. In the name of so-called development you should not completely destroy them”, Mukherjee said adding that he is against disturbing them in anyway.

“If ANTRI can help the Govt. of India to formulate an appropriate policy it would be a great job”, the President concluded.

On the occasion, the Lt. Governor, ANI Lt. Gen (Retd) AK Singh also addressed the gathering. Earlier a video documentary on how the concept of ANTRI emerged and materialized was shown. The vote of thanks on the occasion was proposed by Thevanithi Das IAS, Secretary Tribal Welfare, A&N Administration.