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- Genetic studies done on the people of the Lakshadweep Island have revealed that a majority of human ancestry in Lakshadweep is largely derived from South Asia with minor influences from East and West Eurasia. The study has concluded that there is a close genetic link of Lakshadweep islanders with people from Maldives, Sri Lanka and India.
- Further, the study has found no evidence of early human migration through the Lakshadweep islands. This is contrary to the presumption that Lakshadweep Islands might have played a major role in early human migration as islands are located between Africa and south-western part of India. Previous studies had concluded that early human migration from Africa to Andaman and Australia happened through western coast of India.
- The study has been conducted by a team from CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). Major islands of Agatti, Andorth, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kiltan and Minicoy of Lakshadweep were studied. The results of the study have been published in Scientific Reports.
- Lakshadweep is an archipelago of 36 islands, scattered over approximately 78,000 square km of the Arabian Sea. It is located 200-440 kms off the south-western coast of India. It has a population of approximately 65,000.
- According to historical documents, the spread of Buddhism in Lakshadweep islands happened in 6tH century BC; Islam spread in 661AD by the Arabians. Cholas ruled the islands in 11th century, Portuguese in 16th century, Ali Rajahs in 17th, Tipu Sultan in 18th before the British Raj of 19th century.