Bamboo is the only source of raw material procured from the forest areas of Baratang, Diglipur, Rangat, and Mathura, Jhirkatang. Every year bamboos have been collected from different locations by Forest Department, keeping in view the sustainable use of resource. Settlers, who reside adjacent to the bamboo brakes, were assigned the task of fetching bamboo from the forest at the cost of Rs. 5/- per each bamboo. In this way supply of raw material is very regular to them. Initially, they used to bring bamboo through marine transport, when here road transport system was in infancy. With the advent of the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR), in recent years supply has ecome much regular. Two main varieties of bamboo i.e. Bambusa Atra Lindl (big size bamboo) ambusa Kurzii Balaks (small size bamboo) were used for basketry works. Bigger one is used for nstruction works i.e. bamboo polls, inner ceiling of the huts, matting for covering the house (chetakulu) etc. The later type is amenable for basketry works. The nature of bamboo in this island is very soft when compare to mainland, where the bamboo is very thick and hard, not amenable for different varieties mending works. Basketry: Technique and Typology: Thye generally apply three main varieties of basketwork, out of different varieties that are mentioned in Notes and Queries of Anthropology (1874). These are mainly check, twilled and hexagonal. With these techniques they can make baskets swiftly. First one giv
es employment regularly that has demand in market for daily chores and commercial purposes. Other kind of techniques i.e. coiled type is very time consuming and tedious, which only applies to any product of aesthetic purposes. They use Katti (long hatchet), which is used for shafting bamboo and Davanam (knitting nail with sharp and pointed edge) for knitting purpose. For design works they use modern implements like sharpener, lighter, clips etc. Major types of baskets prepared by these people are storage baskets (dibba), carrying baskets, (gampalu, thattalIu), receptacles (chinna pachhikalu), winnowing fans, (chatalu), chatakulu (bamboo mats), various types of mats (chapalu), marriage baskets (pelli buttalu), pooja buttalu, window curtains, pen stands, and so on prepared by Medar. Winnowing fans and carrying baskets has significant demand inAndaman.
es employment regularly that has demand in market for daily chores and commercial purposes. Other kind of techniques i.e. coiled type is very time consuming and tedious, which only applies to any product of aesthetic purposes. They use Katti (long hatchet), which is used for shafting bamboo and Davanam (knitting nail with sharp and pointed edge) for knitting purpose. For design works they use modern implements like sharpener, lighter, clips etc. Major types of baskets prepared by these people are storage baskets (dibba), carrying baskets, (gampalu, thattalIu), receptacles (chinna pachhikalu), winnowing fans, (chatalu), chatakulu (bamboo mats), various types of mats (chapalu), marriage baskets (pelli buttalu), pooja buttalu, window curtains, pen stands, and so on prepared by Medar. Winnowing fans and carrying baskets has significant demand inAndaman. Basketry is a household oriented activity, performed by all the family members irrespective of their age and sex. Children assist their parents in some minor knitting works till they attain perfection in their occupation. Elders will do the mastery knitting as long as he lives. They viewed that there is no retirement for this occupation because no extra energy or strength is required for making baskets. Both men and women are equally took part in the occupation. Apart from their netting work, women have to look after the daily chores in the house. Their role in caste council (kula sangham
) and other decision making aspects are restricted. Women and children go around places for selling baskets. Men travel a long distance for Marketing. Men play a key role from the procurement of raw material marketing and even in getting work orders from government and private agencies. Inter-group Relations: During those initial days, Medar had close inter group relations but gradually these relations are curtailed by the circumstances and limited to some extent only. Dairy Farm is well known for one of the areas of Telugu speaking communities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Social proximity to the other Telugu speaking communities is also one of the main reasons for their settlements. They prefer this place due to its geographical proximity to all sorts of transport i.e. road and harbours. As it is placed almost centre of the town and very much amenable to market of their product. Initially, they were tenant of the neighbouring people. Later they occupied near by wastelands for construction of their permanent base in the islands and this process was continued for quite some times. Though such activities was thoroughly resisted by neighbour groups- YBC (“Young Brother’s Club” consists of different Telugu speaking caste people), who were also claim for setting up a play ground and brought it to the notice of civic authorities. Then administration swiftly acted in vacating their encroachment and offered alternative place for their rehabilitation but they did not opt due to their attachment with that place. That conflict was over with the re-encroachment of the same place by the dominant group (i.e. the members of that ‘club’) through construction of a community hall. Finally, the Medar encroached the present location, which is nearer to that place and negotiated with authorities for approval. They accepted for the payment of rent for pucca houses in places of their temporary huts. With these circumstances Medar have been maintaining a respectable distance with the YBC and simultaneously got politically affiliated with Tamil community in the Municipal elections for their community interest. It finds very limited inter-group relations with their neighbouring communities. Not only with their linguistic groups but also with their clients especially Bengali farmers and Tamil bus
inessmen. It is due to their occupational interests i.e. in case of development of unnecessary intimacy with the clients may cause negotiation and bargaining of price during transaction. Whenever they visit surrounding places they used to keep their unsold products at the farmer’s house and even if that place is distantly located, where hotel facility lacks, they have to pay for the lunch that is offered by the client members. In their native rural structure they had cordial relations with their neighbours and had some sort of ritual obligations with other communities. This kind of practice is not found here due to the ethnic mosaic of these islands. They had formal relations since farmer’s co-operation is required for the market f their goods.
) and other decision making aspects are restricted. Women and children go around places for selling baskets. Men travel a long distance for Marketing. Men play a key role from the procurement of raw material marketing and even in getting work orders from government and private agencies. Inter-group Relations: During those initial days, Medar had close inter group relations but gradually these relations are curtailed by the circumstances and limited to some extent only. Dairy Farm is well known for one of the areas of Telugu speaking communities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Social proximity to the other Telugu speaking communities is also one of the main reasons for their settlements. They prefer this place due to its geographical proximity to all sorts of transport i.e. road and harbours. As it is placed almost centre of the town and very much amenable to market of their product. Initially, they were tenant of the neighbouring people. Later they occupied near by wastelands for construction of their permanent base in the islands and this process was continued for quite some times. Though such activities was thoroughly resisted by neighbour groups- YBC (“Young Brother’s Club” consists of different Telugu speaking caste people), who were also claim for setting up a play ground and brought it to the notice of civic authorities. Then administration swiftly acted in vacating their encroachment and offered alternative place for their rehabilitation but they did not opt due to their attachment with that place. That conflict was over with the re-encroachment of the same place by the dominant group (i.e. the members of that ‘club’) through construction of a community hall. Finally, the Medar encroached the present location, which is nearer to that place and negotiated with authorities for approval. They accepted for the payment of rent for pucca houses in places of their temporary huts. With these circumstances Medar have been maintaining a respectable distance with the YBC and simultaneously got politically affiliated with Tamil community in the Municipal elections for their community interest. It finds very limited inter-group relations with their neighbouring communities. Not only with their linguistic groups but also with their clients especially Bengali farmers and Tamil bus
inessmen. It is due to their occupational interests i.e. in case of development of unnecessary intimacy with the clients may cause negotiation and bargaining of price during transaction. Whenever they visit surrounding places they used to keep their unsold products at the farmer’s house and even if that place is distantly located, where hotel facility lacks, they have to pay for the lunch that is offered by the client members. In their native rural structure they had cordial relations with their neighbours and had some sort of ritual obligations with other communities. This kind of practice is not found here due to the ethnic mosaic of these islands. They had formal relations since farmer’s co-operation is required for the market f their goods.
