_1 LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS THE EMERALDS IN ARABIAN SEA K.B. Bijurnon Central Institute of Fishcries Nautical and Engineering Training Unit, Chennni Lakshndweep Islands look like emeralds in the vast expanse of blue sea. The codparadise, a tropicsll fantasy awaits with nn unusual, unforgettable and hitfill holiday experience. The r-qral island shaded with palm trees is a memorable experience and the crystal clear water is an abode tbr abundant marine flora and fauna -creeping sea cucumbers, beautiful ornamental fishes, diKcrent species of corals, running hermit crab etc. Historical Backgrozlnd I Early history of Lakshadweep is unwritten. As per the local traditional sayings the first I 1 settlement on these islands were during the period of Cheman Perumal. It is believed that the first 1 settlers were Hindus, as even now the Hindu-social stratification exists in these islands. The advent of Islam dates back to the 17th century around the year 41 Hijra. Tt is believed that one Saint 1 Ubnidullah(r) while praying at Mecca fell asleep. He dreamt that prophet Mohammed wanted him ,I to go to Jeddah, take a ship from there to go distant places. Thus he Icft Jeddah but after sailing for ! I months, a storm wrecked his ship near the small islands, FIoating on a plank he was swept ashore on the island of Amini. From Arnini, St.Wbaidullah arrived at Androth where he met with strong protest but succeeded finally in converting the people to Islam. He next went nearby islands nnd sriccessfully propagated Islm and returned to Andmth where he died and was buried. The graveyard of St.Ubaidullah is a secret place today. Even aRer the entire conversion to Islam, sovereign remained in the hands of Hindu Rajn of Cl~irnkkalfor some yean. From the hands of Chirakkal Raja, the administration oi islands passed on to the Muslim house of Arrakkal of Cannanore around the middle of 16th centuary. The Atsakkal nile was oppressive and unbearable. So, sometimes in 1783 some islanders from Amini took courage and wcnt to Tipu Sul tnn at Mangalore and requested Ilim to take over the administration of Amini group of Islands. Tipu Sultan succeeded in this and rhe islands wereddivided into five, which came under the rule of Tipu Sultan and the rest continued under the hrrakkal house. After the battle of Srirangapattanam in 1 799, the islands were annexed to the British East India and were ruled from MangaIore. In I854 all the remining islands were handed over to tile East India Company by the Raja of Chirakkal. Thus the British rule was established all over the Islands. The union rerri tory was formed in F 956 and it was named ns Lakshadweep in f 973. hi u~liotiterritory level, there is a District panchayath with members elected from cach vilIage/dweep pancl~ayath. Architects of the coral paradise The islands were built on ancient volcanic formations (Sir Charles Darwin 1 842) on which the corals gave the shape of the atolls. Thus it is bioIogica1 in origin. Corals are invertebrates (phylum caelenzemte) with several tiny srgani sms called polyps inhabiting a pore 1i ke cup in the calcareous skeleton. ThepIypassimilatecalcimfmmthe surroundingwatertobuildtheir skeleton. Theorgamms grow we11 in tropical water with ample sunlight, good aeration and plenty of food materials. Massive dead cords bund by their own lime stone, super imposed by branchingcalcmous skeleton ofpolyp make the coral ref. Zakshadweep is one of the world's most spectacular tropical Island systems. The unique featme of the Island is its coral reef with 4200 sq.kms of lagoon rich in marine wealth. hchisland is fringed by snow white corn1 sands. The large slmllow dmlagoon on one side with wall Iike reef made of marine live coral blocks the incoming swells of the outer sea. hkshadweep (meaning hundred thousand island) is the hiest mion teritory of India. It consists of 12 atol Is, three reefs and 5 submerged banks. The atolls poised on submarine banks, harbour 36 islands having an area of 32 sq.km. Of these 1 0 islands inhabited are Agatti, Amini, Androth, Rim, Chetlat, Kadrnath, Kalpeni, Kavarathi, Kiltan and Minicoy. All inhabited islands except Andmth ate protected by shallow lagoon and the outer reef. Most ofthe islands have very sloping, narrow sandy bcaches on lagoon side, sandy slopes and boulders on the sea side. hdroth is the largest island (4.8 sq.km.). The islands lie about 22040km. from Malabar coast between 8" and 12", 30" North latitude and 71" and 74" east longitude bvatatti is the administrative head quarter. A1 t the Islands constitute one district for administrationwith four tehsils the administrator is the head of union territory. These islands have a tropical humid, warm and generally pleasant climate; South-west monsoon period is the chief rainy season, whichlasts from lateMay to early October. The average midall is 1640 mm. Temperatwe-is generally uniform all over the territory. April and May are the hottest month in the year, with the mean daily maximum temperature is about 32"c. Air is humid throughout the year and relative humidity kinga1 ways over 70-75%. As per 2001 census the total population of Zaksham touches 60,595 (2001). Fishing and coconut plantations arc the main source of income but now tourism is emerging as one afthe main industry. The Whadweep waters, comprising an area ofover 1 Iakh sq.km. arc rich in fisheries, particularly Tuna and Shark. The lagoon protected by coral reefs provide safe anchorage for fishing vessels. Fishing season in the islands extend fi-om Sqt.to May, though fishing in the lagoon can k continued during June, July and August on a small scale. Deep sea fishing is dificult during this perid as the sea becomes turbulent bemuscof south west monsoon. Socio-Economic Status MalayaIam is the molfier tongue of the local pp!eexcept those in 3vlinicoy who speak d~eW language. Mahal, the language spoken by the people of Minicoy is the language of Maldives. It has a script of its own which is written hmright to left asthe case of Ambic. With the advcnt of Islam, the Arabic script also kamepopular among people, esespecidly for the study of Koran. Tt was only after the British twk over the adminisbationthat modern Malayalam script came in to use. Muslims contribute 94.37% of the total population. The Muslim dominant population (94%) belong to sufi school of sunni Muslims. The remaining persons distributed among other religions are entirely temporary migrants from outside who are employed in the union territory. The Muslims who are the natives of the territory are treated as Scheduled Tribes. The Sitmcy percentage is 81.78%, males - 40.18%, fernales- 72.89%. The women are getting a high socio -economic considerat ion in the society. The traditional. assets belongs to her, The women of the territory enjoy a higher social status and economic Freedom. The matrilineal system of inheritance under which the property desccndcd through the female line saves the women from proverbial economic dependence. The husband is obliged to make an annual payment towards the maintenance of wife which form part of the marriage contract. The wife can demand a divorce on ground of non-payment of this customary dues. There is also no ban on the remarriage of a widow. On marriage, a man passes to his wife's house and takes his wifc's family name and the entire affairs of the family are managed by the female of the house. I, I Ancestral property (Tamad) is governed by the Marumakkathayam law of inheritance. The i property is managed by the eldest male member known as 'Kmmavar' and it Is enjoyed by the 1 joint family consisting of brothers, sisters and sisters children. Islam confers no inherent right on ! a woman to claim divorce. For a separation to be legal, thc husband has to sender 'thalakh'. The I wifeh~~hhoweverpetitiontothekhasiforadivo~eoncertaingrounds. Undercertaincircumstances, i t the husband may take back all the clothing and jewelry which he has given to the wife and may also 1 demand a portion of the marriage expense. Palygiuny is nlIowed in all Jslands except Minicoy. Islam permits Polygamy, a man being allowed to have four wivcs at a time. The kinikah' ceremony generally takes place at a mosque or at the bride's residence in the presence of khasi, The khasi then asks the bridegroom's father to declare the 'Mehr' or the bride's money. Mek is the bridal. price paid by the groom to the bride. It is decided between the parties before the alliance is agreed upon and paid in cash on the day of nlkhah or on a subsequent date. Apart fmm the meh the husbands are obliged to make certain customary contributions like rice, or dresses to the wife and children. Petitions for divorce are received by khasi af the Island whose decrees are based on the Shariat law and locd customary law. Generally divorces are demanded on the grounds of infidelity or some quarrel between families of the couplcs. The husband renders the mazhi or hlakh according to Muslim law and marriage is dissalved. The average household has 3-4 rooms, A swinging cot is a very common feature. Rice is the staple food of the people. As amle people are non-vegetarians, Kolkali, and paichakali arc he two popular folk art Fernls of the teritory except in Minicoy whew 'LAW is the most popular dance fom. In marriages 'OPANAVis a common cultural programme a song sung by a lead singer and foElowed by a pupof women. Eco Tourism Em butism anbe defined as travel to natural aMomthat conkibutes to their mmtionin mpttothe integrity of local communitiesmdedmmthe tourist's undershdhg ofthe nahdattraction, ifsmmemtion and local community.