Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, have uncovered freshi insights about the genetic roots of the Nicobarese people in a recent study. The findings challenge earlier assumptions about their ancestry and settlement timeline.
It was long believed that the linguistic ancestors of the Nicobarese arrived in the Nicobar Islands around 11,700 years ago during the early Holocene. However, new genetic research suggests the Nicobarese share a significant ancestral link with Austroasiatic populations spread across South and Southeast Asia. The study indicates they likely settled in the Nicobar archipelago about 5,000 years ago.
Austroasiatic languages are spoken across southern Asia, including countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia. These languages are divided into two main branches: Munda, prevalent in parts of India, and Khasi-Aslian, which extends from India’s northeast to the Nicobars, the Malay Peninsula, and the Mekong Delta.
The research, led by Dr. Kumarasamy Thangaraj of CCMB and Prof. Gyaneshwer Chaubey of BHU, involved a detailed analysis of DNA markers inherited from both parents as well as exclusively from mothers and fathers. The study included 1,559 individuals from South and Southeast Asia, helping the researchers trace the genetic relationships between the Nicobarese and other populations.
The study revealed a striking genetic connection between the Nicobarese and the Htin Mal, a Southeast Asian community speaking an Austroasiatic language. Despite their genetic link, the Htin Mal community has remained distinct, exhibiting notable differences due to genetic drift. The finding has been published in the European Journal of Human Genetics.
“Our research shows a strong ancestral connection between the Nicobarese and Austroasiatic populations across the region. The evidence suggests the Nicobarese settled in the islands about 5,000 years ago,” said Dr. Thangaraj.
Prof. Chaubey added that the shared genetic traits across linguistic groups point to an ancient distribution of Austroasiatic populations in Southeast Asia. “The Nicobarese and the Htin Mal provide vital insights into Austroasiatic heritage,” he said.
Dr. Vinay K. Nandicoori, Director of CSIR-CCMB, emphasized the significance of the study, saying, “This research highlights the genetic diversity of Southeast Asia and underscores the importance of preserving the cultural and genetic heritage of Indigenous communities.”
-Rashmi Kumari
