Papia Sen is not your regular content creator. She’s a one-woman army armed with fierce opinions, unfiltered honesty, and a phone full of Reels that could outshine any tourist board campaign. When she opens her mouth (or hits ‘record’), you can expect facts, fire, and fierce love for a tiny dot on India’s map that the rest of the country still hasn’t bothered to understand properly: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Currently based in the Netherlands, this content creator has taken it upon herself to tell the untold stories of her homeland through Instagram Reels, history deep-dives, and sharp social commentary. Her videos are not just visually pleasing, they’re mini-masterclasses in island history, politics, and culture, delivered with the charisma of someone who’s spent her life dodging stereotypes.
It all started with one innocent question from her boyfriend. “One day, while scrolling through Instagram, I stumbled upon a video showcasing the beauty of Swaraj Dweep, formerly known as Havelock Island. When my boyfriend asked why it was named that way, it hit me — most Indians don’t even know basic facts about the Andamans.”
What followed was a full-blown history lesson, right there in her living room. And then, a revelation: “Jab mere ghar ke logo ko nahi pata, tab kitne aur log hain India mein jinhe kuch bhi nahi pata Andaman ke baare mein.”
That moment turned into a mission. Papia began creating content not just to educate but also to reintroduce the islands to India and, eventually, the world.
Born and brought up in the Andamans, Papia studied at Carmel School and then VKV (Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya), before heading to Vizag for her B.Tech in IT at GITAM. The IT bit? Pure compromise. “I hated coding but loved biology. However, I couldn’t pursue anything in biology as my parents feared I would end up jobless in the islands,” she shares. After graduation, she pivoted into content writing and marketing — anything to keep away from code. “I have a creative brain, but the societal pressure of constantly working didn’t let me experiment or find my passion.”
Her move to the Netherlands came as a breath of fresh air, literally. “Europeans believe in living more than working, and I got to enjoy the benefits. I was mostly free after 5 PM every day after one year of moving here.”
More time meant more space to think. And reflect. “After spending years in cities like Hyderabad and Bangalore, I had almost forgotten what it felt like to be close to nature,” she says. “Here, urban planning makes space for trees, parks, and artificial forests so that after a long day of work, people can step outside and breathe fresh air without worrying about pollution.”
That contrast helped her fall in love with the islands all over again. “In India, only two places truly offer this kind of balance, Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Our islands are still relatively unspoiled. People prioritize a stress-free lifestyle, cook at home more often, and invest time in their relationships.”
The Netherlands gave her a new lens, but the story she wanted to tell was still back home.
The Islands, Unfiltered
Papia’s Reels have range: one day, she’s walking you through the Cellular Jail and its haunting past; the next, she’s breaking down real-time issues like crocodile sightings or the rising drug abuse among youth. She’s clear-eyed about why she does it: “I want mainland India to understand our struggles and the lack of opportunities we islanders face.”
But not everyone’s here for the facts. “Some people find my content boring simply because it focuses solely on the islands and suggest that I diversify to gain more followers,” she admits. “Whenever I speak about politically sensitive topics, I receive backlash, even from fellow islanders, who flood my DM.”
Still, the love far outweighs the hate. “Most people from the islands have been incredibly supportive. Many have reached out with feedback or simply to appreciate the effort, and that keeps me going. It reminds me why I started this journey in the first place: to represent us, our stories, and our realities.”
That consistency and purpose earned her national recognition in 2025 when she was awarded the National Excellence Award in the Influencer category by the Navodhaya Foundation. The award honored her for using social media as a tool to educate, provoke thought, and bring attention to a long-ignored region.
Papia isn’t afraid to tell visitors and followers alike: the islands are more than beaches. “Visitors should understand our challenges, not just our picture-perfect beaches,” she says, asserting the need for more nuanced conversations.
She’s also clear-eyed about the future, especially for the next generation of islanders. “Never be afraid to dream big. Many islanders have never even flown to the mainland, so they don’t realize the possibilities beyond these shores.”
With rising substance abuse and limited recreational options, she believes that ambition is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.
And while tourism has long been the dominant industry, she urges young people to look beyond it. “The luxurious lives you see on social media aren’t from another world, they’re just across the sea. Equip yourself with skills that let you contribute to the islands while building a future that’s your own. Don’t just give your life away to the tourism industry. Manifest the best future for yourself, work from the islands, for the islands, and yourself.”
Papia Sen is an engineer-turned-educator, cultural translator, accidental historian, and unapologetic truth-teller. But more than anything, she’s proof that sometimes all it takes is one video, and one very determined woman, to change the way a country sees its islands
