Dr. Ratan Chandra Kar: The Doctor Who Earned the Trust of the Jarawas

When the Jarawa community of the Andaman Islands faced a serious measles outbreak in the late 1990s, one government doctor stepped into an extraordinarily difficult situation. Dr. Ratan Chandra Kar, later popularly known as the “Jarawa Doctor,” played an important role in providing medical care to the community while gradually earning its trust.

Dr. Kar arrived in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1998 and was posted at Kadamtala, in an area close to Jarawa territory. At the time, contact with the highly protected indigenous community was extremely limited. His work therefore involved not only treating illness but also developing a relationship of trust.

Fighting the Measles Outbreak

The most critical period came during the 1999 measles outbreak. According to a published account of his work, Dr. Kar treated more than 100 Jarawa patients during the epidemic. Many were brought to the nearby hospital for treatment and recovered.

His work was particularly important because infectious diseases can pose a serious threat to isolated indigenous populations, whose previous exposure to certain infections may be limited.

Building Trust Before Providing Treatment

Dr. Kar's contribution was not limited to prescribing medicines. He spent considerable time understanding the Jarawas and their way of life. Reports say that he learned their language and gradually developed enough trust to communicate with them.

He also travelled into remote areas to provide medical assistance rather than expecting the community to always come to a hospital. Even after his transfer to Port Blair in 2003, he continued visiting Jarawa areas to provide healthcare.

Respect for Traditional Practices

Another important aspect of his approach was his reported respect for traditional Jarawa knowledge and practices. Rather than attempting to completely replace their traditional methods, he sought to use modern medical treatment where necessary while respecting their culture.

This approach was significant because healthcare for particularly vulnerable indigenous communities requires sensitivity. Medical intervention cannot be separated from questions of culture, trust and the community's right to maintain its way of life.

Beyond the Epidemic

Dr. Kar's involvement with the Jarawas continued beyond the measles outbreak. In 2006, he became Deputy Director (Tribal and Welfare) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration, giving him a wider role in matters concerning tribal welfare.

His experience also contributed to wider understanding of the challenges involved in providing healthcare to the Jarawa community.

Padma Shri Recognition

The Government of India honoured Dr. Ratan Chandra Kar with the Padma Shri in 2023 in the field of Medicine. The official Padma Awards notification lists him among the awardees from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

His story is therefore not simply about a doctor treating an epidemic. It represents an unusual chapter in the history of healthcare in the Andaman Islands—where medical service required patience, cultural sensitivity and the ability to build trust with a community that had historically maintained limited contact with the outside world.

Dr. Kar's work remains associated with one of the significant public-health episodes involving the Jarawas and has earned him a lasting place in the medical history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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