MEET THE DOCTOR WHO SAVED THE JARAWA TRIBE FROM EXTINCTION

The Jarawas, an indigenous tribe of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been inhabiting the islands for over 2,000 years. Contact with the outside world had put them at risk of deadly diseases including measles. For 15 years from the late 90's, Dr. Ratan Chandra Kar, alumnus of Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College in Kolkata, treated and protected the Jarawas, preventing their extinction. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2023 and recognised by NRS Medical College. He spoke to Careers360 about his experience and why young doctors must serve in remote areas.

-  Pritha Roy Choudhury

Q. The Jarawas refrained from interacting with outsiders. When did that change?

A. The Jarawa was a threatened tribe till now. They were, and still many continue to be, traditional hunters. They were warriors and did not compromise on defending their territory and population. The Jarawas are one of four tribal groups in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The others are the Sentinelese, the Onge and the Great Andamanese. The Great Andamanese again consists of 10 sub-tribes.

The Jarawa tribe, from 1997-1998, decided to give up their habit of shooting strangers. A boy named Enmai went to the gardens of a neighbouring settlement at night, fell and fractured his leg. The people of the settlement took him to Port Blair Hospital where he was treated for two months. After he recovered, he was returned to the Jarawas. During the two months, his people thought Enmai had died. After he was sent home, he narrated to the Jarawas them how he was taken care of. After hearing his story, the Jarawa decided to not use bow and arrow on strangers. The incident happened in April 1996. By the end of 1997 and beginning of 1998, they started mingling with others.

Q. How and from when did you get involved in their health and welfare?

A. After they started mingling with civilisation, they started contracting infectious diseases like measles. Many were dying. The welfare officers who were visiting the tribe requested the centre that a doctor should be posted among the tribe to save them from measles.