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The Karen–A Lesser Known Community of the Andaman Islands (India)

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Abstract

The Karen is a lesser-known community residing mainly in even villages of the Mayabunder tehsil of North Andaman. Brought into India from Burma (now Myanmar) for the first time as forest labourers in 1925, the Karen decided to settle down in India itself after its independence as Indian citizens. Today the Karen form a small but important community of the island since they are trying to attain the status of Scheduled Tribe in India, which would entitle them of special privileges and concessions granted to underdeveloped groups of the country. Residing in India over the years; interaction with other communities such as the Bengali, Ranchi and Malyalee; education and development have brought about certain changes in their original lifestyle. Although the Karen are trying hard to maintain their indigenous identity and homogeneity, the rapid changes occurring are easily observable to the extent that marriages into other communities have started to take place. The present paper, based on in depth interviews among the Karen of Mayabunder during November-December 2003, thus attempts to document the general socio-cultural profile of the Karen community and changes that have been occurring in their lifestyle. It is quite possible that in a decade or so from now, the Karen also become a heterogeneous group like other communities of the Andaman Islands who have lost much of their indigenous cultural traits due to excessive intermixing with various other culturally different groups.

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The present study has been undertaken with an objective to analyze the demographic behaviour of the Karen of Andaman islands in India. The Karen is Burmese immigrant brought to Andaman in 1925 to work for the Forest Department. Gradually after settling down, they diversified into other activities. The Karen forms a small but important community in Andaman Fieldwork was undertaken in November – December 2003 with the aim of studying demographic structure, particularly pattern of fertility and mortality among the community. The Karen (in the Andaman) is concentrated in seven villages of Mayabunder tehsil and two villages of Dighipur tehsil, both in North Andaman. Although an attempt was made to cover all the villages of Mayabunder, due to paucity of time, one village could not be covered. There are 297 Karen families in the six villages under study, with a population of 1,666. Thus, the average family size is 5.6. Sex ratio stands adverse against female at 924, although the Karen is traditionally a matrilineal community. Traditionally, community endogamy is the prescribed form of marriage, but cases of exogamous marriages with locals are on the rise. Literacy rate is good enough. However, several people have knowledge only of the Karen language. Vital statistics suggests that crude birth rate in these villages is on the higher side as it varies between 12.9 to 29.0 in the preceding year, while crude death rate is on the lower side. Moreover, it was noted that it is the Karen women who use various methods of birth spacing or tubectomy while male participation is very low. On the whole, it appears that the Karen are economically well off and do not have a very conservative social outlook. If proper attention is paid, their demographic structure can be improved further to a desirable level with only little effort.
A note on the ABO, Rh (D) blood groups among the Karens of Andaman Island
  • S B Roy
Roy, S.B. (1980), A note on the ABO, Rh (D) blood groups among the Karens of Andaman Island. Indian Journal of Physical Anthropology and Human Genetics Vol.6 (2).
India's Communities: H-M
  • K S Singh
Singh, K.S. (1994), India's Communities: H-M. New Delhi: Oxford Press for Anthropological survey of India.