Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 03 March 2025
In a significant step towards preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Nicobarese community, the Department of Art & Culture, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, is set to publish a book compiling traditional Nicobarese folktales and folksongs. This initiative aims to showcase the diverse cultural expressions of the Nicobarese people while ensuring that their language, customs, and identity are celebrated and preserved for future generations.
To make this project a community-driven effort, the administration has invited participation from students, school children, tribal members, and government servants belonging to the Nicobarese community across the Nicobar group of islands. The content for the book will be sourced through a series of competitions designed to encourage contributions from a wide range of participants.
The competitions will be held in two categories: Stories and Songs. Under the Stories category, participants can submit traditional folktales, personal anecdotes, myths, and legends. The Songs category will include folksongs, ceremonial songs, and lullabies. The competition is open to students from classes 9 to 12 in all schools across the Nicobar District, as well as members of the Nicobarese tribe, including tribal captains, community leaders, elders, and government servants. Submissions must be in the Nicobarese language, accompanied by translations in English or Hindi.
To ensure comprehensive participation, separate competitions will be held for different subdivisions of the Nicobar District, namely Car Nicobar, Nancowry, and Campbell Bay. The Deputy Commissioner (Nicobar District) will organise these competitions.
The winners will be awarded cash prizes, with the top three entries in each category from each island receiving Rs 10,000, Rs 8,000, and Rs 5,000, respectively. Additionally, five consolation prizes of Rs 2,000 each will be awarded. All authentic entries will be included in the book, ensuring widespread recognition of participants’ contributions.
The competition has commenced on March 1, 2025, and the last date for submission of entries is March 31, 2025. The final book, containing selected folktales and folksongs, is scheduled for release on May 1, 2025.
This initiative stands as a vital step in safeguarding Nicobarese traditions and providing a platform for community members to share their rich cultural narratives with a broader audience.