EVERGREEN
HISTORY
CHAPTER 5
Pastoralists in the Modern World
SHORT ANSWER TYPE
1. Explain the movement of the Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir.
[CBSE March 2011]
OR
Explain the annual movement of the Gujjar Bakarwals. [CBSE March 2012]
Answer
The annual movement of the Gujjar Bakarwals are mentioned as follows:
The dry scrub forests in the low hills of the Shivalik range provide good
grazing ground for the herds. So, the Gujjar Bakarwals had to move here with
their herds in the winter season.
The Kashmir valley is full of lush green mountains and variety of grasses, so
they had move here in summers to graze their cattle.
They had to move back to their winter places at the times of onset winter.
2. Explain the annual cycle of the seasonal movement of the Gaddis.
[CBSE March 2012]
Or
Describe the cycle of seasonal movement of the Gaddi shepherds of
Himachal Pradesh.
Explain any three features of the life of Gaddi shepherds of Himachal
Pradesh.
Or
Where did the Gaddi shepherds live? Describe the seasonal movement of
the Gaddis.
Answer
The seasonal movements of the Gaddi Shepherds are mentioned as follows:
Once the snow melts, they moved to the higher meadows.
They spent the summer in Lahul and Spiti valley.
They start their return journey in autumn.
After harvesting of summer crops and sowing of winter crops, they move to low hills
of Shivalik Range.
The dry scrub forests in the low hills of the Shivalik range provide good grazing
ground for the herds. So, the Gaddi Shepherds had to move here with their herds in
the winter seasons.
In April, they go to the summer meadows.
3. What is the difference between the annual movement of the Gollas of
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh from the Kashmir ?
Answer
The movement of Gollas depends upon the arrival and departure of the monsoon
season.
Whereas, the movement of Gujjar Bakarwals depend upon the advent and end of the
winter season.
4. Pastoralists combine pastoral activities with agriculture. Explain. [CBSE}
2014]
Answer
Due to adverse seasonal conditions or lack of pasture lands, many pastoralists combined
pastoral activities with agriculture.
Raikas: They lived in deserts of Rajasthan. Harvesting is very irregular in this region due
to low or no precipitation. So, the Raikas had to combine cultivation with pastoralism.
Dhangars: Dhangar shepherds remained in the central plateau of Maharashtra. Due to low
rainfall, they had to combine cultivation with pastoralism.
Kuruman and Kurubas: They cultivated lands as well as reared sheep and goats.
5. Describe how the movement of Kurumas and Kurubas is defined
by the requirement of their cattle. [CBSE 2014]
Answer
The Kuruman and Kurubas pastoral communities had following occupations and needs that led to
seasonal movements:
The Kuruman and Kurubas were herders. They cultivated their lands and became traders too.
Their annual movement is based on the alteration of monsoon and dry season
In the dry season, they moved to coastal areas
They left the coastal areas when the rains came .
6. Who are banjaras ? Describe the life of banjaras. [CBSE 2012]
Answer
The nomadic pastoral community have to move from one place to another continuously to
gain in the recovery of pasture and to earn a living.
Banjaras were nomadic merchants or travellers who travelled in large groups with
their relatives.
This person carried grain in bullock carts from the villages to the settlements.
7. Mention any two factors which are responsible for the annual
movement of the pastoral communities.
Answer
Major factors which are responsible for the annual movement of the pastoral communities
are as follows:
Averse climatic conditions
Lack of fodder for grazing cattle
8. Mention any four factors responsible for the annual movement of
the Dhangars.
Answer
The seasonal movements of Dhangars are mentioned as follows:
In the monsoon season, they stayed in the central plateau of Maharashtra.
The Dhangars harvested their crop of bajra, by October, so they went to Konkan and
and their cattle grazed on stubble.
. They return back to dry plateau by the advent of the monsoon season
9. Explain the annual cycle of the seasonal movement of the Gollas
of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Answer
The Gollas pastoral communities had following occupations and needs that led to seasonal
movements.
The Gollas herded cattle
Their annual movement is based on alteration of monsoon and dry season
In the dry season, they moved to coastal areas
They left the coastal areas when the rains came
10. . Distinguish between 'Reserved' and 'Protected' Forests.
Answer
Reserved forests: Reserved forests produced the timber which was commercially
valuable like deodar and Sal. Also, pastoralists weren’t allowed in the reserved forests.
Protected forests: Protected Forests produced non-commercial timber. Though the
movements were strictly restricted, still with special permits the pastoralists were allowed in
these forests
11. Name the Act which was passed by the British government to
limit the movement of the nomadic people. Mention any two
features of the Act.
Answer
Features of the Criminal Tribes Act are mentioned as follows:
The colonial government wanted to rule over a settled population, so they restricted
the movement of pastoralists and took control over all forests area.
Under the Criminal Tribes Act, many the movement of pastoralists were strictly
prohibited.
12. Who were the Raikas? Write any three features of their lifestyle .
Answer
Raikas are the pastoral community, who lived in deserts of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and
Bikaner of Rajasthan.
Raikas had to combine cultivation with pastoralism because:
Harvesting is very irregular in Rajasthan due to low or no precipitation. So, the Raikas
had to combine cultivation with pastoralism.
Cultivation was not certain and they had to wander around in search of pastures.
13. "Under the colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed
dramatically." Mention any four factors responsible for this change.
Or
How did the life of pastoralists change dramatically during the
colonial period? Explain. [CBSE March 2012,2013]
Answer
In India, colonialism affected the lives of the pastoralists in the following ways:
Under colonial rule, the grazing land for cattle shrunk drastically
Pastoralists had to give additional taxes
Their trades and crafts were affected too
Their movement in search of pastures was regulated
14. Why did the British introduce Waste Land Rules ? Explain by
three reasons.
Answer
The colonial government introduced wastelands rules in India because:
They considered grazing lands as unproductive
To build their navy ships, the colonial government had to increase the production of
Sal or Teak trees
Since land revenue was the major source of income for the colonial government, they
wished to expand cultivation to increase the revenue
.
