How the islands became a union territory and came to be called Lakshadweep

Background

Prior to the formation of this Union Territory on 1st November,1956, these islands formed part of the erstwhile Madras State. The Union Territory was formed in 1956 and it was named Lakshadweep in 1973.
The Administrator appointed under Article 239 of the constitution is the head of this U.T.
The entire group of islands is considered as one District and was divided into four Tahsils, each put in charge of a Tahsildar, except Minicoy where the post of Tahsildar was abolished and a Deputy Collector appointed in August,1978.
The headquarters of the Administration was shifted from Calicut in Kerala State to Kavaratti Island in March,1964, and when annual expenditure crossed Rs. 3 Crores the departments were decentralised and new offices were created in 1972.
The lowest revenue official on each island was known as 'Amin' in the Laccadive group and Minicoy and as 'Karani' in the Amindivi group; all are now designated 'Amin'.
Under colonial rule the British brought in the Lakshadweep Regulation 1912, which conferred limited judicial and magisterial powers on the Amins and Karanis of the islands and also restricted the entry of outsiders.
Before that, five islands of the Amini group had passed to Tipu Sultan in 1783 at the islanders' own request, and after the battle of Seringapattom in 1799 the islands were annexed to the British East India Company and administered from Mangalore; the remaining islands were handed over to the Company in 1854.