Shekhar Singh Collections




Andaman & Nicobar Islands

I have a long and varied association with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I first went there as a young schoolboy, in 1959, when my father, who was a member of the Indian Administrative Service, was posted in Port Blair as deputy commissioner of the islands. I studied for some months at the central school in Port Blair, before being sent away to the “mainland” to study in a boarding school.

I next lived in Port Blair from 1966 to 1968, intermittently, when my father was posted there again, this time as Chief Commissioner. I was studying at the university in Delhi during this time and mainly spent my winter and summer vacations in the Islands. During this period I visited many islands, including Barren Island, the unpopulated forests of south Great Nicobar, and two trips to the Sentinel Island. Also visited Car Nicobar, little Andamans, and Nancowry.

Next, I came to the islands in 1986 – 87 to visit and collect information from wildlife national parks and sanctuaries in the islands. During this visit the Lieutenant Governor of the island’s very kindly made available his official ship. This allowed us to visit barren island (my second visit), and then up the eastern coast of the Andaman Islands, to Saddle Peak National Park, Diglipur, Landfall, and then down the west coast to Interview Island, North Sentinel Island, and many other parks and sanctuaries in between. The outcome was the Directory of National Parks and Sanctuaries in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, included in this collection. I will soon upload the photographic record of these trips.

The subsequent visit was in 2001, as a participant in, and a co-organiser of, the workshop on the management of protected areas In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, along with the A&N Forest Department, ANET, and the Fauna Flora International, UK. Some documents are included in this collection.

Finally, I visited the islands again in 2002, as a Supreme Court of India appointed commissioner, to give a report on forests and allied matters in the islands. It was an interesting trip, especially because I was provided with a helicopter by the Indian Air Force, and a small plane by the Indian Navy, so that I could travel to the various islands which had runways or helipads. My report to the Supreme Court and the subsequent order of the court are included in these collections.

Shekhar Singh

Yet to be uploaded:

1. A collection of photographs of the A&N Islands

Documents under Andaman & Nicobar Islands



1991-Directory of National Parks & Sanctuaries in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Directory of National Parks & Sanctuaries in Andaman & Nicobar Islands Download





2002-Executive Summary Report to the Supreme Court on Forests and Allied Matters in the A&N Islands

Executive Summary - Report Of The Commission Set Up-Under Orders Of The Supreme Court On The Status Of Forests And Other Allied Matters In Andaman And Nicobar Islands   View   Download




2002-Final Supreme Court Order on Report of Commission on Forests Allied Matters in the A&N Islands

Order Of The Supreme Court Of India Relating To The Report Of The Commissioner Appointed By The Supreme Court To Report On Forests And Allied Matters In The Andaman And Nicobar Islands   View   Download




2002-Forests and Allied Matters in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Vol-I - Report for the Supreme Court

Report Of The Commission Set Up Under Orders Of The Supreme Court On The Status Of Forests And Other Allied Matters In The Andaman And Nicobar Islands Vol-I Download




2002-Forests and Allied Matters in the Andaman Nicobar Islands, Vol-II - Report for the Supreme Court

Report Of The Commission Set Up Under Orders Of The Supreme Court On The Status Of Forests And Other Allied Matters In The Andaman And Nicobar Islands Vol-II Download




2002-Forests and Allied Matters in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Vol-III - Report for the Supreme Court

Report Of The Commission Set Up Under Orders Of The Supreme Court On The Status Of Forests And Other Allied Matters In The Andaman And Nicobar Islands Vol. III Download




2002-Saving the Andamans

Saving The Andamans - Towards A Strategy For Sustainable Development Of Island Ecosystems   View   Download





Andaman & Nicobar Islands :
Relevant Unpublished/Out-of-print Documents by Other Authors


1687 onwards - Historical Maps and Illustrations of the A&N Islands

1687 onwards - Historical Maps and Illustrations of the A&N Islands Download




2001 - Proceedings of the Workshop on Management of PAs in A&N 2001

Proceedings of a Workshop on the Management of Wildlife Protected Areas. Download




2002 - Sustainable Management of Protected Areas in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands

2002 - Sustainable Management of Protected Areas in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands    View    Download




2002 - A&N Islands - Bibliographies & Sources of Information

2002 - A&N Islands - Bibliographies & Sources of Information Download