The BBC has reported that the last speaker of 'Bo', - one of the world's oldest languages spoken in India's Andaman Islands, has died at the age of about 85. A leading linguist Professor Anvita Abbi told BBC that with the death of Boa Sr, the last known speaker of 'Bo', the ancient language had come to an end and it was an irreplaceable loss of India's heritage.

Some linguists believe that languages in the Andaman Islands originated in Africa and some may be 70,000 years old. The islands have long been matter of interest and concern for the anthropologists and are one of the most linguistically diverse areas of the world.

Professor Abbi told BBC that Boa Sr's death was a loss for intellectuals wanting to study more about the origins of ancient languages. "It is generally believed that all Andamanese languages might be the last representatives of those languages which go back to pre-Neolithic times," she said. "The Andamanese are believed to be among our earliest ancestors." Boa Sr's case was also highlighted by the Survival International (SI) campaign group.

Andamanese tribes are divided into four major groups, the Great Andamanese, the Jarawa, the Onge and the Sentinelese. all apart from the Sentinelese have lost their distinct identity due to frequent contact with "mainlanders" from India.

Experts believe that the Great Andamanese are about 50 in number - mostly children - and live in Strait Island, near the capital Port Blair. Boa Sr was part of this community, which is made up of 10 "sub-tribes" speaking at least four different languages.

The Jarawa have about 250 members and live in the thick forests of the Middle Andaman. The Onge community is also believed to number only a few hundred. "No human contact has been established with the Sentinelese and so far they resist all outside intervention," Professor Abbi said. It is the fate of the Great Andamanese which most worries academics, because they depend largely on the Indian government for food and shelter - and abuse of alcohol is rife.