Globalization has been one of the highly-debated topics over the past few years. Rapid economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries has been positive aspect of globalization. But globalization has also generated significant opposition over concerns that it has increased inequality and environmental degradation. Today, the Andaman & Nicobar, an Indian archipelago is facing multifaceted challenges of globalization in the form of deforestation, degradation of biodiversity, water scarcity and the extinction of indigenous. The problem of nature covers a whole cycle of history and its proper interpretation can play a crucial role in shaping our understanding and guiding our decisions. Indian history only says that the archipelago was once a glorious chapter of Indian freedom struggle. The history is silent on the past, present and future of original inhabitants and their environment. However while tracing the references of globalization on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in a historical perspective it is found that the first wave of globalization reached at Andaman coast in the form of Malay pirates which started the slave trade. Second wave of globalization reached in the form of British. They set up a forest department here in 1883 with the sole purpose of to fulfill the increasing need of timber. The recent and third wave of globalization is looking it exotic paradise as the target of massive tourism promotion. These islands are now dominated by the outsiders brought by the different waves of globalization. Present paper would take a comprehensive look at the way the indigenous people and their environment have been subjected to alienation in the wake of the exploitation of natural resources during the different phases of history. This will also examine the role of state and the rights of marginalized.
Globalization, Deforestation, Indigenous, History, Andaman
