Chapter-5

Pastoralists in the Modern World

1 marks Questions

1. In which state Gujjar Bakarwals live?

Ans. Jammu and Kashmir.

2. What is the group of several Gujjar households for journey called?

Ans. Kafila.

3. Name the area where Gujjar enters the Kashmir Valley?

Ans. Pir Panjal Pass.

4. Which community in Himachal Pradesh had a cycle of seasonal movement?

Ans. Gaddis.

5. Where does Gaddi spend their winter?

Ans. Shiwalik Range.

6. What does meadow stand for?

Ans. Grassland.

7. Where are Lahul and Spiti located?

Ans. Himachal Pradesh.

8. Where is Uhl valley located?

Ans. near Palampur.

9. Name the community which lives in Garhwal and Kumaon region.

Ans. Gujjar.

10. Name the dry forest area of Garhwal and Kumaon.

Ans. Bhabar.

11. What are the vast meadows in the high mountain called?

Ans. Bugyal.

12. Name the important community of Maharashtra.

Ans. Dhangars.

13. What is the main occupation of Dhangars?

Ans. Buffalo herders.

14. Where does Dhangar shephered live in Maharashtra?

Ans. Central Plateau.

15. Name the crop which is generally harvested in September and October months.

Ans. Kharif Crops- Paddy and Maize.

16. Name the crop which is generally harvested in March April months.

Ans. Rabi Crops- Mustard and wheat.

17. What the lower end of grain stalks left in the ground after harvesting is called?

Ans. Stubble.

18. Name the nomad communities of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Ans. Gollas, Kurumas and Kurubas.

19. Where does the Raikas live?

Ans. Rajasthan.

20. Pushkar is famous for what?

Ans. Cattle fair

 3 marks Questions

1. Which conditions are responsible for the death of pastoral animals in the semi-arid
regions of South Africa?

Ans. High temperature combines with low rainfall.

It creates conditions which are dry and extremely hot. Drought conditions are common in
this semi arid land of equatorial heat.During such times pastoral animals die in large
numbers.

2. Who are nomad pastoralists?

Ans. Nomad pastoralists are the people who move from one place to other place for their
livelihood.
They move with their herds of camel, cattle, sheep and goat.
They always move seasonally from their native place to new grazing or pastureland.

3. How pastoralists are important in India?

Ans. Pastoralists help in the maintenance of ecological balance.

Parodists keep a large number of cattle wealth which is very helpful for the socialeconomic
development of country.
Pastoralists help in forest management.
They also provide manure to the fields.

4. Write any three points related to the activities of Dhangars of Maharashtra?

Ans. Dhangars are one of the Nomads pastoralists living in India. They are one of them
wholive in plains and plateaus.
They live in the central plateau of Maharashtra during monsoon season.
Actually they are shepherds but some of them are blanket weavers.
By October they move towards the Konkan.

5. What are factors that affect the pastoral movement in plains?

Ans. There are many factors which affect the pastoral movement in plains.
Their movement is not like the mountain nomad pastoralists.
They move according to the time of advancing monsoon and retreating monsoon.
In the dry season they move towards the main area and return back at the arrival of
monsoon.

6. (a) Two features A and B are marked in the given political map of India. Identify
these features with the help of the following information and write their correct names
on the lines marked on the map
A. A famous tribes that lived in this area of North-west Africa
B. A national Park
(b) On the same political map shade the appropriate area C. A place where Somali
African tribe lived

Ans.
7. How does Raikas survive in the desert?

Ans. Rajasthan is an area of scanty rainfall. Raikas are pastoralist tribe of Rajasthan.
The rainfall is uncertain and meager.
The Raikas live a combination of cultivation and pastoralism.
When dry season arrives they move towards the new grazing lands and return backbefore
the arrival of monsoon.

8. How did the colonial rule affect the life of pastoralists?

Ans. Their grazing land was converted into reserves or cultivated land.
Their movement was restricted and many tribes were listed as criminal tribes.
Pastoralists were forced to pay tax on animals.
Their pastoral activities were restricted.

9. Who are Massais?

Ans. Massai are the pastoral community of Africa.
They live in East African nations Kenya and Tanzania.
They are cattle herder and always move from one place to other with their herds insearch of
new grazing lands.

10. How did the colonialism affect the life of Massais?

Ans. The partition of Massai land into British Kenya and German Tanganyika restrictedtheir
movement.
New white settlers control over 60% of Maasai grazing land. As a result their bestgrazing
lands were lost.
The colonial powers encouraged the farmers to bring more areas under cultivation.
The farmers began to dominant Massai community economically and politically.

11. How did drought affect the pastoralists in Africa?

Ans. Droughts made a severe effect on the pastoral tribes.

When rain is less and pastures are dry, pastorals move to new grazing lands but thecolonial
powers restricted their movement to a small area.
They were forced to live in the semi-arid areas.
During the drought period, a large number of cattle used to die due to starvation anddisease.

12. (a) Two features A and B are marked in the given political map of India. Identify
these features with the help of the following information and write their correct names
on the lines marked on the map

i) Write the name of shepherded community of Uttar Pradesh

ii) A pastoral community of Maharashtra
(b) On the same political map locate and label the following
Ans.
13. What were the instructions given to the police to check the movement of
pastoralists in colonial Africa?

Ans. The police were given instruction to keep a watch on the movements of pastoralists,and
prevent them from entering white areas. Passes to enter the Territory should not be given to
these natives unless exceptional circumstances necessitate their entering. Ordinary visiting
passes should not be given to the locals.

14. How pastorals were treated by the colonial powers?

Ans. Colonial powers made many restrictions on their movement. Pastoral tribes were
forced to live in the fixed area. They were not permitted to go out of the reserves without
permits. Pastoral communities were not permitted to enter in the white areas.
Colonial powers considered them dangerous and wild.

15. What were the positive impacts of colonialism on pastoral communities?

Ans. The traditional authorities of the elders went to the new appointed chiefs.
The new chiefs gathered wealth. Now they were able to purchase animals, goods and land.
They started to live a settled life. They began to live in towns and started tradeactivities.

16. How the pastorals have survived in the modern times?

Ans. Their grazing lands were disappeared. Their number of cattle was reduced but still they
have adapted themselves in newsituations. They have changed the path of their cyclical
movement as Raikas have done in India. Now come to Haryana instead of Sind.

17. How did the Waste land Rule change the lives of pastoralists?

Ans. Britishers wanted to increase the production of food-grains and commercial crops
tomeet the requirement of England. All types of uncultivated land were unproductive or
waste land for them. So waste landrules were made applied in various parts of India. Waste
Land Rules empowered them to acquire uncultivated land and was distributedamong the
selected individuals. Many of these individuals were elevated to the post of Headman.
18. On the given map of India Mark and locate-
A. A state where Gaddies are found
B. A state where Banjaras are found
C. state where Dhangars are found

Ans.
19. What do you know about the camel fair of Balotra in Rajasthan?

Ans. It takes place at the Balotra in Western Rajasthan.

Camel herders come to the fair to sell and buy camels.The Maru Raikas also display their
expertise in training their camels.Horses from Gujarat are also brought for sale at this fair.

20. How did the Forest Acts change the lives of pastoralists?

Ans. In the 19th century, many forest Acts were made by the British.
The Forest Act 1878 classified the forest into three categories-Reserved, Protectedand Village
Forests.
Pastoralists were severely affected by the Acts.
Their movements were restricted.

21. How did the Grazing Tax change the lives of pastoralists?

Ans. The British tried to discourage Nomads tribes in all possible ways.
Grazing Tax was one such measure adopted by the colonial power.
They wanted to increase revenue income. So Grazing Tax was imposed on many items
including grazing land.
The Tax on grazing land was step to discourage Nomadism.
Pastoral tribes had to pay tax on every animal they grazed on the pastures.

22. Why were forest lands considered as waste lands?

Ans. To the colonial officials forest lands or uncultivated lands were waste land as these
didnot yield agricultural produce or any other revenue.
They considered these lands in to cultivate land and waste land rules were enacted inmid-
nineteenth century, in various parts of the country.

23. (a) Two features A and B are marked in the given political map of Africa. Identify
these features with the help of the following information and write their correct names
on the lines marked on the map
A. A famous tribe that livid in this area of North-west Africa.
B. The pastoral community that lived at the southern tip of Africa
(b) On the same political map locate and label the following
C. Place associated with Massai community

Ans.
24. How did the Criminal Tribes Act Rule change the lives of pastoralists?

Ans. The British were always suspicious of nomadic tribes as the nomads were never settled
on a particular place. The colonial power considered them criminal. Therefore, the Criminal
Tribes Act was passed in 1871. By this act many nomadictribes were classified as criminal
tribes. These tribes were forced to live in notified villages.
Their movement was restricted and they were always kept under strict surveillance.

25. Which conditions are responsible for the death of pastoral animals in the semi-arid
regions of South Africa?

Ans. High temperature combines with low rainfall. It creates conditions which are dry and
extremely hot. Drought conditions are common in this semi arid land of equatorial heat.
During such times pastoral animals die in large numbers

26. Can you explain the social life of Gollas of Mysore According to Buchanan?

Ans. Buchanan a traveler, travel through Mysore and wrote about Gollas. Their families live
in small villages near the skirt of the woods, where they cultivate a little ground, and keep
some of their cattle selling in the towns the produce of dairy. Their families are very
numerous, seven to eight young men in each being common. Two or three of these attend the
flocks in the woods, while the remainder cultivate their fields, and supply the towns with
firewood and with straw for thatch.

27. What are Reserved Forests and Protected Forests?

Ans. Reserved Forests: The forests which produced commercially valuable timber
likeDeodar or Sal. No pastoralist was allowed to access these forests.
Protected Forests: In these forests some customary grazing rights of pastoralists weregranted
but their movements were strictly restricted.

28. How did drought affect the pastoralists in Africa?

Ans. Droughts made a severe effect on the pastoral tribes. When rain is less and pastures are
dry, pastorals move to new grazing lands but thecolonial powers restricted their movement
to a small area. They were forced to live in the semi-arid areas.
During the drought period, a large number of cattle used to die due to starvation anddisease.

29. What were the instructions given to the police to check the movement of
pastoralists in colonial Africa?

Ans. The police were given instruction to keep a watch on the movements of pastoralists,and
prevent them from entering white areas. Passes to enter the Territory should not be given to
these natives unless exceptional circumstances necessitate their entering.Ordinary visiting
passes should not be given to the locals.

30. (a)Two features A and B are marked in the given political map of India. Identify
these features with the help of the following information and write their correct names
on the lines marked on the map
A. A shephered community
B. The pastoral community who herded cattle
(b) On the same political map locate and label the following
C. A state to which Dhangars belong

Ans.
 5 marks Questions

1. Explain the traditional authorities of the Elders and Warriors of the Massai Society?

Ans. In pre colonial times Massai society was divided into two social categories-elders and
worriers. The elders formed the ruling group and met in periodic councils to decide on the
affairs of the community and settle disputes.The worriers consisted of younger people,
mainly responsible for the protection of the tribes. They defended the community and
organized cattle raids. Raiding was important in a society where cattle were wealth. It is
through raids that the power of different pastoral groups asserted. Young men came to be
recognized as members of warrior class when their manliness by raiding the cattle of other
pastoral groups and participating in wars. They, however, were subjected to the authority of
the elders.

2. Who were nomads and what did they do?

Ans. Nomads are people who do not live in one place but move from one area to another to
earn their living.
They move with their herds of goat, sheep, camels and buffalos.
They do so to cope with the changing seasons to collect food for them and fodder for their pet
animals.
The sell milk, milk products and animals and obtain necessary things.
On their way to other places they do small trades also.
Raikas and Banjaras and Gujjars are the examples of some nomadic communities.

3. How did the reserves affect the Movement of Massai Community?

Ans. Massai groups were forced to live in the confines of special reserves.
The boundaries of these reserves became the limits with which they could now move.
They were not allowed to move out with their stock without special passes.
It was very difficult to get permits without trouble and harassment.
Those who found guilty of disobeying the rules were severely punished.

4. Which measures were introduced by colonial government to break down the

traditional authority system of both Elders and Warriors of Massia pastoralists? How
these measures strengthen the position of Chiefs?

Ans. To administer the affairs of the Massai, the British introduced a series of measures that
had important implications.
They appointed chiefs of different sub groups of Massai, who were made responsible for the
affairs of the tribe.
The colonial government imposed various restrictions in riding and warfare.
The chiefs appointed by the colonial government often accumulated wealth over time.
They had a regular income with which they could buy animals, goods and land. They lent
money to the poor neighbors who needed cash to pay taxes. Many of them began living in
towns, and became involved in trade. These chiefs managed to survive the devastations of
war and drought. They had both pastoral and non-pastoral income,and could buy animals
when their stock was depleted.

5. How the pastoralists of Africa survived in droughts and dry seasons during pre
colonial period? How did their life become very miserable in drought during colonial
rule?

Ans. Drought affects the life of pastoralists. When rain fails and pastures are dry, cattle are
likely to starve unless they can be moved to areas where forge is available. That is why,
traditionally, pastoralists are nomadic. They move from place to place. This nomadism
allows them to survive bad times and avoid crises.
But during colonial period their lives become very miserable. The Massai were bounddown
to a fixed area, confined within a reserve, and prohibited from moving in searchof pastures.
They were cut off from best grazing lands and forced to live within a semiarid tract prone to
frequent droughts. Since they could not shift their cattle to places.
Where pastures were available, large number of Massai cattle died of starvation and disease
during colonial period.
6. Explain the annual movement of Dhangars.

Ans. Dhangars move from central plateau of Maharashtra during the months-October and
November.
Due to the shortage of fodder, they move to konkan which is flourished agricultural tracts
with high rainfall.
The Konkani peasants welcome them as their field had to be fertilized and made ready for
the Rabi crops.
The flocks of Dhangars manure the fields and feed on the stubble.
With the onset of the monsoon the Dhangars leave the Konkan and the coastal areas with
their flocks and return to their settlements on the dry plateau.
This is because sheep cannot tolerate the wet monsoon conditions.

7. Can you write a brief outline on the Criminal Tribes Act passed by British
Government? And clarify the reasons due to which this act was introduced?

Ans. In 1871 the colonial in India passed the criminal Tribes Act. By this act many
communities of craftsmen, traders and pastoralists were classified as criminal tribes. They
were stated to be criminal by nature and birth. Once this act came into force, these
communities were expected to live only in notified village settlements. They were not
allowed to move out without a permit. The village police kept a continuous watch on them.
British officials were suspicious of nomadic people. They distrusted mobile craftsmenand
traders who hawked their goods in villages, and pastoralists who changed theirplaces of
residence every season, moving in search of good pastures for their herds.
The colonial government wanted a rule over a settled population. They wanted therural
people to live in villages, in fixed places. Such population was easy to identify and control.

8. Explain any five features of the life of the Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh.

Ans. In the areas of the mountains the Gaddi shepherd of Himachal Pradesh had also a cycle
of seasonal movement.
They too spent their winter in the low hills of Siwalik range, grazing their flocks in scrub
forests.
By April the moved north and spent the summer in Lahul and Spiti.
When the snow melted and high passes were clear, many of them on to higher mountain
meadows.
By September they began their return movement. On the way they stopped once again in the
village of Laul and Spiti, reaping their summer harvest and sowing their winter crops.
Then they descended with their flock to their winter grazing ground in the Siwalik Hills.

9. Explain the Taxation Policy imposed by colonial government upon the pastoralists to
expand their revenue income.

Ans. To expand its revenue income, the colonial government looked for every possiblesource
of taxation.
Taxes were imposed on land, on canal water, on salt, on trade goods and even on animals.
Pastoralists had to pay tax on every animal they grazed on the pastures.
In most pastoral tracts of India, grazing tax was introduced in the mid-nineteenth century.
The tax per head of cattle went up rapidly and the system of collection was made
increasingly efficient.
In the decades between the 1850s and 1880s the right to collect the tax was auctioned out to
contractors.

10. Explain the life of Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmire.

Ans. Even today the Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir are great herders of goat and
sheep.
Many of them migrated to this region in the nineteenth century in search of pasture for their
animals.
Gradually over the decades they established themselves in the area, and moved annually
between their summer and winter grazing grounds.
In winter when the high mountains were covered with snow they lived with their herds in
the low hills of the Siwalik range. The dry scrub forests have provided pasture for their
herds.
By the end of April they began their northern march for their summer grazing grounds.