Read Current Affairs
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
- For the first time in India's electoral history, 19 members of the Jarawa Tribe from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been included in the electoral roll.
- About the Jarawa Tribe:
- The Jarawas are an indigenous tribal group residing in the Andaman Islands, and they are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
- They primarily live in the dense forests, mangroves, and unspoiled beaches of the Middle Andaman and South Andaman Islands, an area known for its rich biodiversity and natural beauty.
- The Jarawas are believed to be descendants of the Jangil tribe, which is now extinct. Some theories suggest that the ancestors of the Jarawas may have been among the first human groups to successfully migrate out of Africa.
- Historically, the Jarawas have been hunter-gatherers, skilled in fishing, hunting, and foraging. They are also known for their warrior-like nature, fiercely guarding their territories.
- The tribe faced significant population decline after the British established a colonial presence in the Andaman Islands in 1789. Despite this, the Jarawas withstood the impacts of British colonization and World War II.
- In the following decades, interactions with the outside world grew, particularly from 1997 onwards, when the Jarawas began to engage with settled populations. They participated in trade, received medical aid, interacted with tourists, and even sent their children to school.
- Today, the population of the Jarawa tribe is estimated to range from 250 to 400 individuals.
​​​​​​
- The Twipra Student Federation (TSF), a faction of the North East Students Organisation (NESO), recently organized a protest in Agartala, advocating for the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok language.
- About Kokborok Language:
- Kokborok is the language of the Borok people, who are primarily located in Tripura.
- It was officially recognized as one of the State's official languages of Tripura on January 19, 1979.
- Belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family, Kokborok's history dates back to at least the 1st century AD, when the records of the Tripuri kings were first documented in a text known as Raj Ratnakar.
- The name "Kokborok" is believed to have first appeared as ‘Kok-boro’ in 1897/98 in an early language primer by Daulat Ahmed titled Kokboroma.
- In 1900, Thakur Radhamohan Debbarma used the spelling "Kokborok" in his published grammar of the language.
- Historically, British officials, including Political Agents and District Officers, referred to the language as Tipperh, Tipura, or Tipra.
- The term Kokborok itself is derived from the words ‘Kok’, meaning 'verbal,' and ‘Borok’, meaning 'people' or 'human.'
- According to the 2011 Census, there are 8,80,537 speakers of Kokborok, accounting for 23.97% of Tripura's total population.
​​​​​​
- Raman Rajamannan, the monarch of the Mannan community and the sole tribal king in Kerala, is set to participate in the Republic Day parade in Delhi.
- About the Mannan Community:
- The Mannan community is a scheduled tribe (ST) in Kerala and holds the distinction of being the only surviving tribal dynasty in South India. Their way of life is deeply intertwined with Tamil culture. They speak a dialect similar to Tamil, though it does not have a written script.
- It is believed that the Mannans originally hailed from Tamil Nadu and migrated to Idukki during the reign of the Poonjar Rajavamsham dynasty. Today, nearly 97% of the Mannan population resides in Idukki District. While the community once lived in isolated forest regions, government policies, including a ban on deforestation in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, led them to relocate to government-allocated land on the reserve’s outskirts several decades ago.
- The Mannan community follows a matrilineal system of descent, with the Raja Mannan (king) being chosen by community elders from eligible individuals with a hereditary claim to the position. Agriculture is the primary livelihood of the Mannans, with activities like coconut harvesting and herbal cultivation being central to their economy. They practice Hinduism, and their key festivals include the Kalavoot, Meenoot, and Mutthiamman Festival.
- Mannankoothu, a distinctive ritualistic art form, is performed during religious ceremonies, harvest periods, and weddings. This art form holds a special place in the community’s cultural expressions.
​​​​​​