Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 30 April 2025
In a major step towards preserving and promoting the unique cultural heritage of the Nicobarese community, the Department of Art & Culture of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration is set to compile a book featuring traditional Nicobarese folktales and folksongs. The initiative aims to document and celebrate the language, customs, and identity of the Nicobarese people through community participation.
To crowdsource content for the book, a district-wide competition has been announced, inviting contributions from students, tribal members, and government servants belonging to the Nicobarese community. The competition will be conducted across all three sub-divisions of the Nicobar District—Car Nicobar, Nancowry, and Campbell Bay—and will be coordinated by the respective Deputy Commissioners.
The competition will be held in two categories: Stories and Songs.
• In the Stories category, participants can submit traditional folktales, personal anecdotes, myths, and legends.
• The Songs category will include folk songs, ceremonial chants, lullabies, and more.
Students from classes 9 to 12 in schools across the district, as well as Nicobarese community members—including Tribal Captains, elders, community leaders, and government employees—are eligible to participate. All entries must be submitted in the Nicobarese language and must include translations in English or Hindi.
Winners will be selected sub-division-wise, with the top three entries in each category receiving cash prizes of ₹10,000, ₹8,000, and ₹5,000 respectively, along with five consolation prizes of ₹2,000 each. All authentic entries, regardless of prize status, will be considered for inclusion in the forthcoming book.
The competition opens on May 1, 2025, and the last date for submission is May 31, 2025. The final book is expected to be released following the conclusion of the competition and evaluation of entries.