Champin

During the British Raj, the British Indian government bestowed the title of "Rani" ("Queen") on a local woman named Islon, for the services rendered by her to the government. Even after India became independent in 1947, Islon and her only daughter Lachmi were treated as queens by the local villagers, although the government did not recognize them as such. After Lachmi's death in 1989, her only daughter Fathima became the village leader. She had eight children, including five daughters and three sons; her family of 42 lived in three buildings, locally known as Rani Ghat ("Queen's Palace"). After the village was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, 72-year old Fathima and her family were evacuated by the Indian authorities to Port Blair.^[3] The tsunami caused two deaths in the village, that of a local woman named Jennifer, and of a man who was a resident of the neighbouring Katchal Island.^[1] The villagers decided to select an elevated land to rebuild their village.^[3]

A census taken by a research team after the 2004 tsunami recorded a population of 510 in Champin.^[1]

The village's population reduced considerably over the next few years. According to the 2011 census of India, Champin has 33 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 86.99%.^[4]