Pastoral Nomads and their

Movements

Pastoralists in the North India Even today the Gujjar Bakarwals of J&K are great herders of goat and sheep. In winter when the high

mountains were covered with snow they lived with their herds in the low hills of the Shivalik range. The dry scrubs here provided pastures for their cattle. By the end of March they moved to North for their summer grounds. Several households came together for this journey known as ‘kafila’. Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh had a similar cycle of seasonal movement. They spent their winter in the low hills of Shivalik Range and spent their summer in the North in

Lahol and Spiti.

Pastoralists in the East India

In Garhwal and Kumaon the Gujjar cattle herders come down to the dry forests of BHABHAR in the winter and in the summer the high meadows of BUGYALS. Bhotiyas, Sherpas and Kinnauris of the Himalayas adjust to seasonal changes and make effective use of available pastures in different places.

On the Plateaus, Plains and Deserts.

Dhangars of Maharashtra- In the early twentieth century they were 4670000 shepherds-blanket weavers and buffalo herders.

During monsoon they stayed in central plateau of Maharashtra- a semi arid region-low rainfall-poor soil-covered with thorny scrubs-only bajra could be sown here. During monsoon they had vast grazing ground. By October they harvested their bajra and moved to west (Konkan). Coverd a month’s march- into a flourishing agricultural tract with rich soil.

Konkan peasants harvested their crops till then. Dhangar flocks manured their fields and fed on the stubble.

Konkans gave them supplies of rice which was useful for them in the months of scarcity in plateaus.

Gollas in Andhra and Karnataka

Gollas herded cattle. Kurumas and Kurbas reared sheep and goats and sold woven

blankets. In dry season they moved to the coastal areas and during rains came back.

Banjaras of UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, MP moved long distances-selling plough cattle in exchange for grains and fodder.

Raikas lived in the deserts of Rajasthan. During monsoon Raikas of Barmer, Jaiselmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner stayed in their homes. By October grounds were exhausted, they moved out in search of pasture and water.

They had to judge how long the herds could stay in one area and know where they could find water and pasture.

Colonial Rule and Pastoral Life• During colonial rule pastorals life changed

dramatically-grazing grounds shranked, movements regulated, had to pay more revenues to government.

• Agricultural stocks, trades and crafts adversely affected.

• Government wanted all grazing lands transformed into cultivated land for more and more revenue.

• By mid 19th century Waste Land Rules were enacted and such land were given to select individuals. So expansion of agriculture meant the decline of pastures.

Pastoralism in Africa• Half of the world’s population of pastoralists live

in Africa. • Over 22 million Africans depend on pastoralism in

one way or the other.• They are Bedouins, Berbers, Massais, Somalis,

Borans and Turkana.

Massai Cattle Herders in East Africa

300000 pastoralists lived in Southern Kenya.150000 in Tanzania.

Where have the grazing land gone. Before colonial times they stretched from North Kenya to steppes of Northern Tanzania. The best grazing lands were gradually taken over for white settlements and the Massais were pushed

in to a small area of South Kenya and North Tanzania. The Massais lost their 60% area of the pre colonial land and now they had an arid zone with poor

pastures and uncertain rain fall. Cultivation was encouraged and the pasture lands were turned in to cultivated lands. Large areas were also turned into games reserves like the Massai Mara and Samburu National Park in

Kenya and Serengeti Park in Tanzania. Serengeti Park in Tanzania was created over 14,760 km. of Massai grazing land.

Results

The loss of the finest grazing lands and water resources created pressure on the small area and thus deterioration of the quality of the pastures and shortage of forage.

The Borders are closed From the late nineteenth century the colonial government imposed various restrictions on their

movement. They were allowed to move within the confines of special reserves and not without permits and it

was difficult to get permits without trouble, if found disobeying they were severely punished. They were not allowed to enter into white areas as they were seen as dangerous and savage. Colonialists had to depend on them many times for bore mines, build roads. The restrictions severely affected their pastoral and trading activities.

When Pastures Dry

Traditionally pastoralists are nomadic because nomadism allows them to survive bad times and avoid crises.

Massais could not shift their cattle to places where pastures were available due to restrictions. So a large number of their cattle died due to starvation and disease.

Not all were Equally Affected Massais society was divided into two categories-Elders and Warriors-Elders formed the ruling group

and settled community disputes and the warriors the younger people were responsible for the protection of the community. They raided the cattle of other communities and participated in wars..

To administer the affairs of Massais the colonial government appointed chiefs. The chiefs had a regular income with which they could buy animals, goods and land. They also lent

money to poor peasants. Thus they became very rich. Most of these chiefs lived in towns and stayed their wives and children back in the villages to look

after the animals. But the poor pastoralist had no resources to tide over bad times. They had to go to towns to find

work.

The forests which produced timber like ‘Deodar’ and ‘Sal’ were declared reserved.

Some customary rights were granted to pastoralists but their mobility was restricted severely.

Colonial officials believed that the grazing destroyed saplings and the herds trampled and munch away the shoots.

In the areas they were allowed to enter , they needed a permit for entry. Days and timings of their entry and departure were specified.

Officials wanted settled population in fixed placed to rule them properly. In 1871 the colonial government passed the Criminal Tribes Act. Many nomads were declared

criminal tribes. They could move out of their villages with a permit only. Grazing tax imposed. Between 1850-1880 right to collect such tax was auctioned out to

contractors.

How these changes affect the lives of PastoralistsContinuous grazing on the limited

area led to decline in the quality of pasture and also intensive grazing of limited fields created shortage of forage and deterioration of animal stock.

How Pastoralists cope with these changes

Reduced stock of animals. Discovered new fields for grazing. After 1947 Raikas of Rajasthan could not graze their camels

on the banks of Indus and Sindh so they moved to Haryana. After harvesting the fields their required manure and they fulfilled this need.

Some richer pastoralists purchased land and settled there. Other pastoralists took loans, became poor and started doing labour work. Combined thir

activities with other sources of income.

Conclusion

Many pastoralist communities adapted to new times. They changed the paths of their annual movement. They reduced the number of cattle. They pressed for rights to enter new areas. They exerted political pressure of governments for diet subsidy and

other form of support. Environmentalists recognize that the pastoralists suit to many hilly

and dry regions of the world.