INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightTN PanditImage caption
A photograph of Mr Pandit handing a coconut to a Sentinelese man in 1991
Not many people know more about the Sentinelese than Indian anthropologist T N Pandit.As a regional head for India's Ministry of
Tribal Affairs, Mr Pandit embarked on visits to their isolated island community over a period spanning decades.The tribe, who have lived in
near-total isolation for tens of thousands of years, came to global attention last week after they reportedly killed a 27-year-old American
would-be missionary trying to make contact with them.But Mr Pandit, now 84, says from his experience the group are largely "peace-loving"
and believes their fearsome reputation is unfair
"During our interactions they threatened us but it never reached a point where they went on to kill or wound
Whenever they got agitated we stepped back," he told the TheIndianSubcontinent's World Service
"I feel very sad for the death of this young man who came all the way from America
He had enough chance to save himself
But he persisted and paid with his life."Mr Pandit first set out to visit North Sentinel island, solely inhabited by the tribe, in 1967 as
part of an expedition group.Initially the Sentinelese hid in the jungle from their visitors, and then on later trips shot at them with
He said the anthropologists would bring a selection of items along with them on their trips to try and entice contact
Image copyrightSurvival International Image caption
Few images of the endangered tribe exist
"We had
brought in gifts of pots and pans, large quantities of coconuts, iron tools like hammers and long knives
We had also taken along with us three Onge men (another local tribe) to help us 'interpret' the Sentinelese speech and behaviour," he
recalled in an essay charting his visits."But the Sentinelese warriors faced us with angry and grim faces and fully armed with their long
bows and arrows, all set to defend their land."Despite little success, they would leave gifts behind to try and build rapport with the
mysterious community.In one instance, he said they knew a tied-up live pig they offered was clearly unappreciated by the group when they
swiftly speared the animal to death and buried it in the sand.Making contact After several expeditions trying to establish contact, their
first real breakthrough came in 1991 when the tribe came out to peacefully approach them in the ocean."We were puzzled why they allowed us,"
"It was their decision to meet us and the meeting took place on their terms.""We jumped out of the boat and stood in neck-deep water,
distributing coconuts and other gifts
But we were not allowed to step onto their island."Image copyrightTN PanditImage caption
Mr Pandit (right) worked for
India's Ministry for Tribal Affairs
Mr Pandit says he was not overly worried about being attacked, but was always cautious
when he was in close proximity with them.He says their team members tried to communicate in sign language with the Sentinelese, but had no
success as they were largely pre-occupied with their gifts
"They were talking among themselves but we couldn't understand their language
It sounded similar to the languages spoken by the other tribal groups in the area," Mr Pandit recalled.'Not welcome'In one memorably tense
exchange on the trip, one young member of the tribe threatened him
"When I was giving away the coconuts, I got a bit separated from the rest of my team and started going close to the shore," he told the
TheIndianSubcontinent."One young Sentinel boy made a funny face, took his knife and signalled to me that he would cut off my head
I immediately called for the boat and made a quick retreat," "The gesture of the boy is significant
He made it clear I was not welcome."Image:Who are the SentineleseThe Indian government has since abandoned gift-giving expeditions, and
outsiders are banned from even approaching the island.The complete isolation of the Sentinelese people means any contact with the outside
could put them at deadly risk of disease because they are likely to have no immunity to even common illnesses such as flu and measles.Mr
Pandit said members of his groups were always pre-screened for possible communicable diseases and only those in good health were allowed to
travel to North Sentinel.Officials say Chau, who was killed last week, did not gain any official permission for his trip.He is instead said
An effort is now underway to try and retrieve the American's body - something Mr Pandit has suggested could be possible with a tentative
Despite his own experience of tense exchanges with the Sentinelese, Mr Pandit resists labelling them as hostile."That is the incorrect way
We are the aggressors here," he told the Indian Express
"We are the ones trying to enter their territory.""Sentinelese are a peace-loving people
They don't seek to attack people
They don't visit nearby areas and cause trouble
This is a rare incident," he told the TheIndianSubcontinent.Mr Pandit says he does favour the re-establishment of friendly gift-dropping
missions with the tribe, but says they should not be disturbed."We should respect their wish to be left alone," he said.That view is shared
by conservation groups such as Survival International, who have implored local officials to abandonattempts to retrieve Chau's body
Read more on uncontacted tribes:
