The tiniest Union Territory of India with only one
district, Lakshadweep is spread across just 32 sq km and is an
archipelago that consists of 12 atolls and three reefs along with 10
inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands attached islets, 4 newly
formed islets and 5 submerged reefs in the Arabian Sea. The islands that
are inhabited are Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat,
Bitra, Andrott, Kalpeni and Minicoy, out of which Bitra is the smallest
of all with a population of just 225 persons. It has a lagoon area of
4,200 sq km and 20,000 sq km of territorial waters. More than 93% of the
population of the islands are indigenous and belong to the Shafi School
of the Sunni Sect of Islam and have been described as Scheduled Tribes
because of their social and economic backwardness.
The main occupation of the people here is fishing, coconut cultivation
and coir twisting though tourism is a rapidly emerging industry here.
Women enjoy a unique position in the islands of Lakshadweep and are the
head of their families. The Marumakkathayam system of inheritance is
followed here in which ancestral or Tharwad property is inherited
through the female line. Unlike other parts of India, it is not a social
taboo here for a divorcee or a widowed woman to opt for remarriage.
According to the early history, Hameedath Beebi of Pantamveli at Amini
was the first lady to accept Islam and marry Saint Ubaidullah(r) inspite
of humiliation and threats and settle down with him in Andrott later.
Since most males serve in international ships as seamen, the
responsibility to run the house falls upon the shoulders of women folk.
Marco Polo in his travelogue has made a reference to Minicoy as 'the
island of females'.
