Port Blair, May 15: A solemn function is being organized on 17th May 2012 at 9.a.m at the Memorial of Battle of Aberdeen, Water Sports Complex to pay tribute to those Great Andamanese who lost their lives during the Battle fought in the year 1859.
Lt. Governor, A&N Islands will lay wreath at the Memorial followed by floral tribute by Chief Secretary, MP and others. All are requested to join us in paying tribute to the heroes of Battle of Aberdeen.
Significance of 17th May (Battle of Aberdeen): Ever since the establishment of penal settlement in Andamans by the British, they faced a series of attacks by the Great Andamanese.
The act of organized resistance against the British reached its climax on 17th May 1859, in the ‘Battle of Aberdeen’. An escaped freedom fighter of 1857 named Dudhnath Tiwari, who had escaped from Ross Island on 23rd April 1858, with 90 other fellow freedom fighter, was kindly treated by the aborigines. He lived with them for about a year. He had some suspicion of the preparation going on for the attacks on the British. Dudhnath Tiwari found 20 canoes with 250 Great Andamanese leaving the place where he stayed. After they had landed on the mainland (South Andaman), another party of Great Andamanese joined them.
These two batches of aborigines reached within two miles of Aberdeen on the afternoon of 16th May and encamped there for the night. Dudhnath Tiwari got definite information that the aborigines would attack the settlement next morning. At dead of night, when the men were asleep, Dudhnath left the camp. He arrived at Aberdeen at about 2 a.m. and told this story to the authorities. Dr. J.P.Walker, the Superintendent of the penal settlement immediately made arrangements for the defence. But before he could complete his plans, the aborigines began the attack early in the morning of 17th May 1859. One party of the Great Andamanese proceeding along the shore was stopped by the gunfire of the Naval-guard, but another party, in spite of gunfire reached the convict station and occupied it. A small number of the Andamanese were killed and seriously injured during the Battle of Aberdeen.
It was the most desperate and determined attack of the aborigines ever made on the settlement. The intention of the aborigines was, to exterminate outsiders.
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