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Are Minikaaraaje people really cannibals?
#Thread on #minikaaraaje , who we share the Indian Ocean with and probably have a chance of drifting off to as this song says
#Thread on #minikaaraaje , who we share the Indian Ocean with and probably have a chance of drifting off to as this song says
According to BasFoiy, Minikaraaje consists of Andaman &Nicobar where cannibals r rumored to live.Andaman is also called 'Anzamaanukara' aptly describes its original pre-Dravidian residents,who migrated out of Africa some 60k yrs ago &live a life that is pretty much frozen in time
The main indigenous tribes are the Great Andamanese(extinct), Jarawa, Jangil(extinct), Onge & Sentinelese live on Andaman & Nicobar island (N. Sentinelese Is.). Those on Andaman island have contact & mingle with the Indian population on the island, while N. Sentinelese don't.
Their stature is considered short as they are afflicted from 'π’π¬π₯ππ§π ππ°ππ«ππ’π¬π¦' (me too!). By 'short' they mean 5ft, which is average for us I suppose.
We Maldivians boast about our mad skill at 'pole & line' fishing. Well, Andamanese fish by shooting arrows at it! Pretty badass (pun intended)! (Photo credit to owner)
Their immune system is quite fragile as they had been isolated from the rest of the world and its diseases to develop immunity against it. In late 1800s the British kidnapped 2 adults & 4 kids and took them to the mainland. The Adults died & kids got sick.
Once of the earliest mentions about the islands comes from the Sri Lankan Chronicles, Mahavansa from 4~5th Century. Refers to the country as Naggadipa (the island of the children, from the Pali nagga meaning 'naked'). Pretty accurate!
In 15th Century, the French depicted in a book of 'Wonders' - Andamanese as wolf headed people. Guess we weren't the only ones with the tales! (Photo credits to owner)
Talking of tales, read about Minikaaraaje and other Maldivian Folktales --> https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:876644/FULLTEXT01.pdf
In 1974, the National Geographic produced this documentary on Anzamaanukara:
After the boxing day tsunami, India sent a helicopter to checkup on the Sentinelese and was met with arrows and bows thrown at. (Yep, they weren't afraid of huge flying metal birds! Such confidence! I am rooting for you naked warriors! Keep at it!)
Most of the tribes believe in 'monotheistic animism' and that 'Paluga' is the only deity which is responsible for everything on Earth. They believe in souls, ghosts and spirits.
In 2018 missionary John Alen Chau bribed an Indian fisherman and rode close to the island to spread the word of Jesus. He made 2 attempts which was met with a hostile welcoming party, got injured from bows & arrows. The third time, he never returned.
Tourism by the mainland is pretty much destroying the simple way of life of the Jarawas on Andaman. This piece by Aljazeera, reminded me of human zoos operated by the Europeans & Americans.
'We hunt only what we need.' Such ecofriendly and simplistic people, now on the risk of disappearing. The Islands are already declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve. But perhaps its people should be considered a world heritage.
So basically MinikaRajje people are people who just wants to be left alone. As for 'Are they cannibals or not?' No info suggests that they are (or aren't per se). Maldivians probably invented the myth and gave them a bad rep! (Photo: Excerpt from Maldives Folklore).
