Why did Andaman and Nicobar islands became part of India although they are much closer to Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra and Myanmar?

Today, Andaman & Nicobar is seen as a tourist island but very few know that this was the first Indian place to attain freedom from the clutches of British. Yes, the first part of Indian land to be liberated was Andaman & Nicobar Island.Located 1200 kms from the Indian mainland, approx 500 kms from Myanmar and 90 kms from Indonesia, the Andaman and Nicobar consists of mini 572 islands.Andaman and Nicobar islands are approximately 8,249 square km in size and houses India’s only Tri-Service Theatre Command of the Indian Armed Forces.Its valuable position, from the straits of Malacca, and the presence of the Indian Armed forces in the region, is one of the reasons for China’s infamous Malacca Dilemma and perhaps the mother of the OBOR(One Belt One Road) and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

But DO YOU KNOW?IRONICALLY, these Islands were the first one to be liberated by nn Indian Freedom Fighter.This Freedom fighter was none other than  Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He liberated it on 8th November 1943 when Japanese Army ( a supporter of Netaji) conquered it from the  Britishers and handed it over to the Azad Hind Fouz . Meanwhile, Andaman was captured by the Japanese Navy as the Britishers surrendered without a fight. All the political prisoners were released from Kalapani jail and the British soldiers and officers were sent to Burma.So It was the first land where Indian Tricolour was flagged by the hands of Netaji in 1943.The Azad Hind Government was successful in convincing the Japanese force to hand over Andaman and Nicobar islands to the Azad Hind Fouz. And Finally, Netaji Bose fulfilled that promise which was made to the Indians of Singapore. Yes, in the year 1943, Subahas Chandra Bose landed at Port Blair via Air route and met the Japanese Military Commander of the island. On December 30th 1943, the tricolour was hoisted in the Andaman Island for the First time. Island was named as ‘Shaheed’ and ‘Swaraj’ for Andaman and Nicobar Island respectively. The islands became a part of India in 1950's and was declared as Union Territory in 1956. Interestingly, these islands were also used by the Cholas and the Marathas as a naval base, during their respective time periods.

There is no exact answer available about why these island became part of Indian territory and not part of any other nations. But as we closely follow history of these islands it becomes evident that these islands were culturally connected with India more than any other country. Also Indians had control on these islands since ancient times!!

Source:-  Quora