‘Jarawas forever’ is a story about the Jarawas. A mysterious tribe, about which little is known and talked. They defeated an empire which had conquered most of Southeast Asia, with only their bows, arrows and tactics. The same empire had also threatened Pacific Australia and New Zealand. This victory, for them, is a colossal achievement and they are proud of it. The elders among the Jarawas often narrate the story to their children. We must record their account and not censor their language. Today, two of the tribesmen are infected with Covid-19. As such, over many generations, they have been split among the coastal and inland regions.
Enjoy the story.
Chapter One:1941
It is late 1942, and the Japanese advance into Burma is almost complete. Still, Japanese planners realized that the resources they had just gained would be in danger from British airbases which were stationed on the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Therefore they planned a full-scale invasion of the islands specifically on the critical harbour and port of Port Blair. After a brief but fierce operation and a sea battle, the British Indian forces had to surrender. Immediately, after securing their hold, the Japanese began to transport the prisoners to the mainland.
While doing so, private first-class Hikosumo Yonoada shot a British officer who had disobeyed the guard’s orders. This man was Sir Jack Karl, a very experienced soldier who had spent a lot of time in the Islands. Before he died Yonada heard him mutter ‘etest. finite perʻarcum” which meant- “you’ll be ended by the bow”. But as Yonoada knew only Japanese, so he unregretfully again shot and killed the officer and threw away his corpse. Hikosumo did wonder about what Sir Karl said but soon forgot and shot five more prisoners for similar reasons.
Yonada’s senior officer Knachi Katatza knew that besides the natives, “the Jarawas” the islands were theirs. In Port Blair, the streets were full of Japanese soldiers and officers. They in a fashion reminiscent of the Vandals sacking Rome burned the finely built buildings and looted all the jewellery and luxuries they could find. They turned the fine houses into drinking bars and the airfields into a mere shadow of their former importance.
They planned to use the islands to harass allied ships, and, once in control they confiscated most of the rice, leather and manufactured goods. Rationing and limiting the diet of the people of the city to only a bowl of rice, some meat and almost no milk and vegetables. Virtually all open areas were devoted to growing vegetables and yams, and if someone was caught stealing from the stockpiles, he or she was shot. Almost no medical attention was given in case a local fell ill. Only water and some basic’medicine’ was given. The shipment of goods like cloth and metal was hindered by air attacks, and some of what was gained was sent to feed the forced labour in Malaya, and the rest was to provide the Japanese people. By July 1942, the population of Port Blair was cut by half, as most had fled. The rest suffered from widespread disease and malnutrition. But day by day the Japanese needed more resources, and so they began to look towards the Island occupied by the “Jarawas”.
Chapter 2 Ota we
While all this was happening, in a small Jarawa camp, the chief’s, 38-year-old son Ɖajň was with the group celebrating a successful hunt. It had taken them a few hours to track down and kill the heavy boar. They had also found its mate and piglets but spared them. During the celebration the Chief’s grandson, Kanň announced that as he was 18, he was officially a man and demanded he is allowed to go for a hunt.
But the Chief disagreed, as he did not have the strength to wear the dugong hide cloak and the plant fibre chest plate used to protect a warrior’s body during a hunt and The 65-year-old village chief Tňg said “shῂa” is not willing to trade with us for skin right now and also the hunting season is over.(He was referring to a chief of the coastal Jarawa, as the inland Jarawas depended on them to supply Dougong skin and as it was the season of storms, it prevented hunting of the Dugong).
But Kanň was adamant and complained repeatedly. Then Ɖajň began speaking and said that while hunting he had noticed a print in the mud and initially did not think much of it. But when he examined closely he saw a strange pattern similar to the pattern created when the white man steps on our earth. But the pattern was slightly different.
Everyone was shocked because as this could result in conflict or the risk of disease. Kanň was told to summon all the local warbands and to get them ready for war. As Kanň ran through the jungle, it began to rain, and soon all the paths became muddy sinkholes. But despite the mud in his eyes and ears, he made it to all the bands and spread the news.
Soon warriors of many camps gathered. But on coming to the area where the prints were present. Besides the footprints, nothing was found. But they decided to do patrols in the area to prevent further incursions. The oldest man present in the camp; 80-year Qtrn remarked in his very stoic voice “Well, I hope the situation is not like when they first came.” (referring to the tribe’s dislocation from their traditional lands by the British in the 1800s)
Chapter 3: The First Expedition
For the first few months, Hikosumo was stationed in Port Blair. But soon he got bored, and began to creat ruckus and was repeatedly arrested for drunkenness, having fights with officers and general misbehaviour. He was reassigned to guard the border between them and the Jarawa. But as he was absent-minded and possibly drunk, while on marching duty one day, he strayed into the forest but managed to find his way back.
Then a few days later a group of about twenty men came and asked him to join this expedition to subdue the natives (Second lieutenant Shoma Akosa led this expedition which was conducted to keep the misbehaving soldiers occupied). But due to heavy rain, their progress was slow, and so they withdrew.
Back in Port Blair, Hikosumo noticed that in this rainy season malaria was very severe as the demolished buildings harboured small pools of water which were a breeding ground for and millions of mosquitoes. Those afflicted got little care and most just learnt to ignore the pain and itchiness. Then one-day Hikosumo again got into a fight with an officer over extra pay and knocked the officer out. And so Hikosumo was sent to the northern islands.
But, before that, he was publicly beaten and hundreds of people showed up to satisfy their urge to kill the Japanese. The people some of them resembling the Jarawas cheered for the person who beat up the poor soldier. After this public beating, Hikosumo’s pride was damaged. So eager to salvage his self-respect he boarded on a ship as a part of convoy destined for the northern outpost town of Madhupur.
While onboard the ship as he relaxed, literally out of nowhere, a squadron of Hart Audax light bombers of the Royal Indian Air Force attacked the ship. They dropped their payload on the convoy and scored hits on many ships. Much of the convoy was bound for Burma laden with rice and vegetables. Many ships sank and anti-aircraft fire lit up the sky. Hikosumo’s boat survived sustaining only some minor damage.
Once at Madhupur he and a couple of riflemen were detailed to guard a storehouse. Lieutenant Shoma who had also been sent along with HIkosumo to Madhupur along with some others planned to raid a Jarawa camp after it had rained.
They knew that if they were caught, they would be severely punished. Their arms were also second grade. They were carrying Arasika rifles and Nambu pistols. As decided, they began to move after it had rained. They found going to be tough as they were not experienced to traverse the muddy ground. While moving they spooked a heard of deer which quickly scattered and ran. They did not realise that they had disturbed one of the Jarawas most sacred animals. And on top of that, they did not know that some Jarawa hunters were also present in the area. Both sides were close to each other, but both did not realise how close they were.
Chapter 4: First Skirmish and the Past
It was not long before both sides heard each other in the thick forest canopy. The nervous Jarawa fired the first shot, the arrow missed. The Japanese fired reflexively. But their guns jammed due to wet bullets, and, soon had to retreat. They reported this incident to the high command as an attack initiated by the Jarawa. The top brass did not think much of the experience at first, but they allowed the border guards to undertake more missions like these.
Back south in the Jarawa camp after an exhausting day of patrolling their border the Jarawa war bands settled down around a fire and trying to forget about the day and all the difficulties they had to face they began to talk.
DῂƉ (Kanň s mother) said: “well do you like the tubers I cooked for this feast.”
Then Dajň spoke up “Well, I am sorry to bring you such trouble, and we don’t have any meat to feast with.”
“Why worry this is the season of rain and with rain, food is plenty” replied one of the warriors.”
“then Why?” began Kanň “Why us, why are they encroaching on our land, we only have honey and wax, leaves and tubers, fruits and leaves, boar, ivory, turtle shell and dugong meat to offer.”
“well those men are greedy, and I have heard that they eat meat almost exclusively and in their quest for more meat, ivory and hide they are encroaching on our land” spoke Aŏ, another boy in the community.
Then Tňg who until this point had been silent, and stoic as he was, said in a loud voice “This land was not always ours” Everyone was shocked they shouted, “what, how?“
Tňg replied, “we only settled here after the Bea disappeared they and we fought each other in large engagements but when this white man arrived, they drove us out of almost all our lands, and so my father settled this group, it was heartbreaking for us to leave our lands alas, we had to do so to escape their diseases and their wrath!”
“Why didn’t you tell me this when I was young ?” shouted Dajň in shock
Tňg in a stoic voice replied, “Well you see that we were the most affected while our people of the coast[ Coastal Jarawa] were not and so tensions began to rise as we suffered the most, but they gained more, it almost led to war, but due to my father s tireless efforts it was averted.” Everyone was in shock, but the elderly women of the camp remained calm and reminded the children to go to sleep. The day had ended with a bleak discussion.
Chapter 5:Three Days Later
Dajň and the warriors were resting under a tall tree after a whole morning foraging, making bows and arrows. As he awoke and noticed that Kanň had still not come back. He had been sent to trade some boar ivory for any meat or skin he could find. Worried he called his daughter Wŏῂ to go to find out what was his son doing. But as soon as she started on the dirt track, Kanň ran into the settlement and shouted “NEWS! HORRIFYING NEWS! MEN, WITH……….. WITH COLORED UNIFORMS CARRYING FIRE TUBES TRY …TRIED TO KILL THE CHILDREN OF THE GODESS!!! (DEER)” he continued, “All chiefs and matriarchs are summoned to meet at a camp ten camps west of here .” Then Tňg questioned, “What about the costal people (coastal Jarawa” ?”
Kanň put his head down in shame and said, “Some of the costal chiefs refuse to come as the say that the matter is not concerned with them as it interrupts the fishing season“
Tňg stood up and ordered a few men and DῂƉ to accompany him to sort out the issue and asked the remaining to stay ready for an incursion. He left immediately, determined to reach the coastal chief’s camp by nightfall. Walking through the thick jungle on paths only maintained by constant usage or by rudimentary marks, while Tňg walked barefoot, his companions wore some leaves on the soles of their feet. On seeing this, Tňg remarked, “Ha! Young people nowadays! When I was your age, I could walk many kilometres without stopping! Even with your fancy foot coverings, you need to stop in every camp we pass through for you stupid water breaks. Ha! HA!HA!”.
But after five hours they had to stop and rested in camp and so talked about what he was going to do when he met the chief. After an hour’s rest, they set off again. Along the way, they saw strange metal birds coloured with strange and distinct markings decorated with quirky, vibrant symbols, but they continued marching along until they reached the coast where they met all the coastal chiefs, and then the debate began.
Chapter 6: The Great Debate
After all the parties had sat down, the arguments began. Initially, Tňg stayed quiet, letting others settle their quarrels. Sometimes it took them hours to resolve even minor disputes.
Until one of Tňg s old friends arrived, he had been overruled by the sheer number of his opposers but with his old friend and ally by his side, he and the matriarchs asserted their control. Soon the coastal chief’s agreed to send warriors to help in the fights. They also advised him to go to the north to check out and discuss with them. To get there they provided an outrigger canoe to with two sailors, and so they set off. It was a relatively short trip and they reached in just an hour. But as night was falling, they were quickly welcomed and given a dwelling to sleep in. The next day they met and discussed matters with the camp chief’s and matriarchs and having obtained their support left. After a long walk, he finally came back to his camp, while he was away, they had discovered more and more evidence of encroachment. So after some time, more warriors began to show up. They were wearing a variety of coloured loincloths and had decorated themselves with feathers. While some even wore the skin of monitor lizards others had a small amount of crocodile skin. All the warriors were eager to go into battle.
But Ɖajň cautioned them and told them, “Don’ t attack until provoked and you stay here, your job is to guide other bands to the site and if there is an engagement warn everyone and spread the word.”
Then Ɖajň calmly handed his son Kanň a plant fibre chest and asked him to wear it. Ɖajňdeclared Kanň as a member of the band. That night everyone was wondering what the following day might bring.
Aŏ and some other boys expressed their unhappiness stating “ALL THIS IS A GREAT BIG FOLLY as multiple deer might have stepped on the same spot.” The spot where the footprints were found. However, this theory was quickly rejected by others.
Chapter 7:FOR THE EMPEROR!
Meanwhile in Port Blair Hikosumo had been given 20 men to lead and was given the rank of Lieutenant as Shoma had been killed in one of the air raids conducted by the RAF Bombers. He was again sent to his old outpost with a mission. He was tasked to subdue any local resistance. Armed with rifles, pistols, and one submachine gun he and his men set off. But before entering, each drank almost two mugs of sake. After moving over a short distance the men were drunk but now a Lieutenant, Hikosumo largely kept them together. Some of his drunken men even got bit by snakes and died. An odd one was attacked by a crocodile. But two men, Kosatisu Londagin and a man named Endo were so drunk and making funny faces which could have made even made a template for a cartoon. The Japanese ‘drunk’ patrol was wandering aimlessly in the jungle when they encountered a Jarawa war band doing on an afternoon patrol.
As they saw each other the Jarawa started to shoot arrows and killed many of the Japanese soldiers. Hikosumo managed to regroup his men and set up a defensive position. But, soon all other warbands arrived to aid their kinsmen.
Ɖajň led one of the group and firefight began, hundreds of arrows responded to by only a few bullets. The ammunition soon ran out and the remaining soldiers decided to flee. With the Jarawas chasing, them the group spilt.
Suddenly, a herd of dear suddenly appeared and trampled the exhausted soldiers. Hikosumo also died. Only one soldier lived to tell the story.
The Jarawas stopped at the edge of the forest and began celebrating. Ɖajň’s son said, “Let’s go and hunt boar for a feast”. But Ɖajň did not reply. He just said “We shall” softly before collapsing and breathing his last. When he was brought to the camp, it was found that he had been shot multiple times. But kept his own and his band’s morale high. The following morning he was given a warriors funeral.
Frustrated, the Japanese stopped large scale missions against the Jarawas. However, the skirmishes continued for the rest of the war.
I hope the Jarawas manage to survive the latest threat of Covid-19.
