In the first article that I wrote, I had mentioned that I’m from the Karen community, born and brought up in the Andaman Islands, India. Belonging to this community and born in the Islands, I thought it’ll be appropriate to briefly mention the history of Karens in Burma (Myanmar) and the subsequent settlement of the Karens in the Andamans.

The Karens are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in Burma (Myanmar), and they constitute a population of five to seven million. Geographically and linguistically the Karen can be divided into three broad groups: Southern, Central, and Northern. These groups can be further divided into many sub-groups. The Karen people speak several different dialects of Karen. 70% of Karens speak Sgaw Karen, 7% speak Pwo Karen, and the others speak either Karenni or Pa-o/Taung Su. Sgaw and Pwo are the two most widely spoken. Karens do not differ significantly in word root or structure but differ in pronunciation. 

In Burma – Early Karen Christians 

The Karen tribe was the first to experience Christianity under the influence of the American missionaries who went to Burma to work amongst the different ethnic groups, establishing schools and theological colleges for the Karens. These American missionaries worked particularly amongst the Sgaw Karen and helped them climb to higher positions in the Burmese society. The Christian Karens also developed a loyalist relationship with the British regime. This good and cordial relationship with the American missionaries and the British regime in Burma would later result in the migration of the Karens to the Andaman Islands when the British colonised the Islands in 1921. 

Ross Island – First Administrative center Of The British

In the years of 1921-1925, the Andaman Islands was colonised by the British and there was a significant transformation in the administrative landscape of the island. After the end of World War I, the British introduced a new colonial scheme of quasi-penal settlement with a two-fold aim: “to provide a suitable free population for the islands, and to be a means of mitigating the punishment for the convicts.” 

British Bungalow on Ross Island, Port Blair built in 1925

This new quasi-penal settlement carried with it the abolition of convict transportation. It was at this time that the British required additional labourers to clear the forest in other parts of the Islands. They had to explore the possibilities of looking for labourers outside the Islands and people who would be willing to settle in these hostile land which was known as “Kalapani” meaning “Blackwaters”.

Bon Voyage: The Boat SS Maharaja by which the Karens came to the Andamans in 1925

It was considered a place only for the convicts and political prisoners who would be lodged in the infamous Cellular jail at Port Blair that was built by the British. There was no way a prisoner could escape from the Islands and reach the Mainland due to the vast stretch of the sea surrounding these Islands. Only a community that are used to adapting to a hostile environment would consider going to the Andamans at that time. One of the communities in Burma was the Karens.

There’s no way out! Cellular Jail Port Blair built by the British

In 1925, Col. Ferrar (Chief Commissioner of the Islands) met with his cousin Dr H.I. Marshall ( an American missionary and the Principal of a Theological Seminary in Burma) and enquired if any groups of people in Burma would be interested in migrating to the Andamans to work and permanently settle in the Islands. Dr Marshall who was then working amongst the Karens in Burma advertised this opportunity of migration in a local Karen newspaper “Tsah Tu Gaw” (meaning “Morning Star”). The British Administration in the Andamans also assured that they would provide free rations and provisions for a year and be given land for cultivation to migrants who were willing to come to the Andamans at that time.

A Look at daily life in Maybunder Town – Where the Karens first landed

In response to this advertisement published in the newspaper, Karen leaders like Rev. Lugyi, Rev. Pan Bu and Rev. Samba responded and went down to the Andaman Islands in 1925 with 12 families in which my grandfather and his family were amongst the 12 families. Once in the Andaman, these Karen families were temporarily settled in ‘Calolo Island’, just overlooking Mayabunder. It was also known as ‘Bonnington’ Island and later they were given land in Webi Village where they began the tedious process of converting the thick forests into fields for them to cultivate and begin their livelihood in a newfound place.

 A year later, more Karen families from Burma also took the opportunity of migrating to the Andamans to permanently settle in the Islands. The Karens made Webi village their permanent home. Along with the Karens, the British also brought in Ranchi from Jharkhand (mainland India) as forest labourers. 

A Glimpse of Webi Village

The Andaman Islands, when the Karen came in, were being transformed from a penal settlement to a free island. There were hostile clashes between the natives and the settlers and the British were busy organizing labourers to work in the forest and clear it for settlement. Therefore, Karens encountered a unique environment and traversed a unique sociopolitical history – one that is different from that of convicts, natives, and other Indian settlers. This complex history had to have been accompanied by an interesting cultural transformation of a Burmese immigrant tribe settling in a diverse culture with other Indian communities too.

A Grim Reminder: Japanese Bunkers in Port Blair

The Karens in the Andamans had seen and experienced the British rule in 1925 when they arrived in the Islands.  Then in 1942, the Japanese invaded and occupied the Islands and our Karens had to work as laborers for them. This was a difficult period in the history of the Karens in the Andamans as the Japanese were hard taskmasters and had no compassion and sympathies in extracting work from the locals. We have been told by our elders that even food and provisions were difficult to get and people went through great hardships during the time of their occupation.

The Karens finally breathe a sigh of relief when India secured its independence from the British in 1947. Andamans came under the rule of the Indian government and all the Karens secured Indian citizenship and carried on their livelihood peacefully. They enjoyed all the benefits extended by the government and the Administration. Agricultural land was regularised in their names and they were free to cultivate and carry on their livelihood. In the subsequent years, sites were also allotted to the Karens who did not have house sites. People got employment into government services like Education, Medical, Forest, Police, and other departments. As the Karen population increased, the administration allowed the expansion of Karen settlements to other nearby areas not very far from the “Mother settlement” of Webi Village. The land was allotted in these areas to the second generation Karens for them to cultivate.

Discovering New Land: From left to right my Aunty Naw Poh Poh and Naw Mehchee 

As families increased, there was need for locating newer land suitable for cultivation as there was no more land in and around Mayabunder tehsil.  During the late 70s, While on a fishing expedition towards the Northernmost part of Andamans (close to Diglipur) two elderly brave Karen ladies explored a piece of land which they found suitable for cultivation and this location would also accommodate quite a few families. They spread the word to other Karens in Webi village and then set out to occupy this land and were the first to clear the forest and began cultivation in the early 80s. These two ladies were Naw Poh Poh and Naw Mehchee. This settlement was called after their combined names ‘CHEE POH”.  Following the exploration of this land, many families moved to CHEE POH to settle there.  This is the furthest settlement of the Karens away from Webi.  This was all due to the effort of these two strong-willed ladies who are no more now but the Karens will forever remain grateful to them. 

In 1967, the Karens in Andamans were given the option to go back to Burma if they wanted to, but they had to relinquish their Indian citizenship and become Burmese citizens. Quite a few families went back and my parents too may have been persuaded to go back, if not for the fact that I was away from them studying in the Mainland, Bangalore.

Most of the Karens who went back to Burma regretted the decision they made as living and working conditions in Burma were not like what they had experienced in the Andamans where they had a happy and peaceful life and were among their relatives. In 1989, some of them even risked their lives and fled from Burma by the sea route in their fishing boats, landed in North Andamans, and surrendered to the Authorities at Mayabunder and was later shifted to Port Blair where a case was registered against them for illegal migration. (I will narrate more in detail about the ordeal of these people in my articles to follow). 

Reunited: Karens who went back to Burma in 1976

My wife and I happened to visit Myanmar recently and met the families of those who went back from Andamans. They were all so happy to see us and recounted to us their life in the Andamans and regretted their decision in leaving the Islands, their property, jobs, and most of all their loved ones in Andamans. By going back to Burma, they thought that they were going to a greener pasture but that was not to be. It was too late when they realised it and had to resign living in Myanmar for the rest of their lives. We were glad that we were able to make this trip and meet these dear ones after nearly 50 years.

Reunited: Uncle Saw Ahwah and Family after 50 years

Some of the important values that Karens hold dear to their hearts are respect for elders, duty to parents, modesty, and humility. The Karens have a strong work ethic and agriculture is the center of the Karen economy. White rice is the central component in the diet of Karens and is typically eaten at all three meals and their meals must have one or two meat dishes at least. The Karens are expert hunters and fishermen and they had no dearth of meat and fish for their meal. Now that hunting is totally restricted, they are beginning to have their own farm of poultry and piggery.

 They are the most hospitable and welcoming people that I’ve known, a very simple and down to earth folks and sometimes their simplicity can be exploited by people who want to take advantage of them. They are physically and mentally a tough lot and can adjust and survive in some of the roughest and hostile environments. For this reason, they have been able to live in the Andaman Islands for 95 years now and I must acknowledge here that God has been good to our community and the Andaman Administration has also been kind and supportive to the Karens. We as a community want to continue doing our best to contribute to the growth of the Island. My sincere hope and prayer are that we will work together to uplift our community and take it forward in the days to come.

Final Thoughts 

Dear friends, It is helpful to remember our beginnings in order to appreciate where we are today. Think back on your life to see where God has led you. Thank God for His continuing work to protect you and provide for your needs.