Class 9 History Notes: Pastoralists in the Modern World
Class 9 History Notes: Pastoralists in the Modern World
Welcome to the final chapter of our Class 9 History study series! Today, we are exploring Chapter 5: Pastoralists in the Modern World.
When we study history, we usually focus on kings, wars, factories, and farmers. But what about the people who are constantly on the move? Nomads are people who do not live in one place but move from one area to another to earn their living. In this chapter, we will focus on pastoral nomads—people who move with their herds of goats, sheep, cattle, or camels.
We will look at how they lived, how colonial rule completely changed their world, and how they survived. Let’s hit the road!
1. Pastoral Nomads and Their Movements in India
In India, pastoralists can be found in the mountains, on the plateaus, in the plains, and in the deserts. Their movement is not random; it is strictly guided by the changing seasons to find fresh pastures (grass) for their animals.
A. In the Mountains
Gujjar Bakarwals (Jammu & Kashmir): They are great herders of goat and sheep. In winter, when the high mountains are covered in snow, they live with their herds in the low hills of the Shiwalik range. As summer approaches, they cross the Pir Panjal passes and move to the lush green high-altitude meadows (Bugyals) of the Kashmir valley. Their march is called a Kafila.
Gaddi Shepherds (Himachal Pradesh): They have a similar seasonal cycle. They spend winters in the low hills of Shiwalik and move to the higher villages of Lahaul and Spiti during the summer.
Other Mountain Nomads: The Bhotiyas, Sherpas, and Kinnauris also move cyclically between summer and winter pastures.
B. On the Plateaus, Plains, and Deserts
Dhangars (Maharashtra): A very important pastoral community. During the monsoon, they stay in the central plateau of Maharashtra (a semi-arid region). By October, they harvest their bajra and move west to the Konkan coast, which has high rainfall and rich soil. The local Konkani peasants welcome them because Dhangar flocks eat the stubble of the harvested fields and their dung provides excellent manure.
Gollas, Kurumas, and Kurubas (Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh): The Gollas herded cattle, while the Kurumas and Kurubas reared sheep and goats and sold woven blankets. Their movement depends on the monsoon and dry seasons, not the cold and snow.
Banjaras: Well-known graziers found in the villages of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. They move over long distances in search of good pastureland, selling plough cattle and other goods to villagers in exchange for grain and fodder.
Raikas (Rajasthan): In the Thar desert, rainfall is low and uncertain. So, the Raikas combine cultivation with pastoralism. During the monsoons, they stay in their home villages (like Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer). By October, when grazing grounds are dry, they move out in search of other pastures and water. One group of Raikas (Maru Raikas) herds camels, and another group rears sheep and goats.
2. Colonial Rule and Pastoral Life
When the British took over India, the lives of pastoralists changed dramatically. Their grazing grounds shrank, their movements were regulated, and the revenue they had to pay increased. How did this happen?
1. Waste Land Rules: To the British, land that produced no agricultural revenue was "waste" land. From the mid-19th century, Waste Land Rules were enacted. Uncultivated lands were taken over and given to select individuals to turn into farms. This meant a massive loss of grazing tracts for pastoralists.
2. Forest Acts: Forests were divided into categories.
In Reserved Forests (like Deodar and Sal), no pastoralist was allowed.
In Protected Forests, some grazing rights were granted, but their movements were strictly restricted. They needed permits for entry and exit, and overstaying resulted in heavy fines.
3. The Criminal Tribes Act (1871): The British officials were deeply suspicious of nomadic people because they moved constantly and didn't have a fixed address. In 1871, the colonial government passed this harsh act, classifying many communities of craftsmen, traders, and pastoralists as "Criminal Tribes" by nature and birth. They were forced to live in notified village settlements and could not move without a permit.
4. The Grazing Tax: To increase their income, the British introduced a tax on grazing. Pastoralists had to pay a tax for every single animal they grazed in the pastures. The tax went up rapidly over the years.
How did the Pastoralists Cope?
Some reduced the number of cattle in their herds. Others discovered new pastures. For example, after the partition of India in 1947, the camel and sheep herding Raikas could no longer go into Sindh and graze their camels on the banks of the Indus. So, they had to find new grazing grounds in Haryana. Some richer pastoralists bought land, settled down, and gave up their nomadic life.
3. Pastoralism in Africa: The Story of the Maasai
To understand that this was a global issue, let's look at Africa, where over half the world’s pastoral population lives. We will focus on the Maasai cattle herders, who live primarily in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania).
A. Where Have the Grazing Lands Gone?
Before colonial rule, Maasailand stretched from north Kenya to the steppes of northern Tanzania.
The Scramble for Africa (1885): European imperial powers sliced up Africa into different colonies. An international boundary was drawn right through Maasailand, cutting it in half between British Kenya and German Tanganyika.
The Loss of Land: The best grazing lands were taken over for white settlement. The Maasai lost about 60% of their pre-colonial lands and were confined to an arid zone with uncertain rainfall.
National Parks: Large areas of grazing land were turned into game reserves like the Maasai Mara and Samburu National Park in Kenya, and Serengeti Park in Tanzania. Pastoralists were not allowed to enter these parks, hunt, or graze their herds.
B. The Borders are Closed
In the 19th century, African pastoralists could move over vast areas. But from the late 19th century, the colonial government began imposing severe restrictions on their mobility. They needed special permits to cross boundaries. If they broke the rules, they were severely punished.
C. When Pastures Dry
Drought affects the life of pastoralists everywhere. Traditionally, nomads survived bad years by moving to new areas. But because the Maasai were restricted to a fixed reserve and could not move, severe droughts led to the death of hundreds of thousands of their cattle due to starvation and disease.
D. Not All Were Equally Affected
In pre-colonial times, Maasai society was divided into two social categories:
Elders: Ruled the community and settled disputes.
Warriors: Younger men who protected the tribe and organized cattle raids (a sign of wealth and power).
The British Intervention: The British appointed "chiefs" from different Maasai sub-groups to manage their affairs, and they banned cattle raiding and warfare.
These newly appointed chiefs became rich. They had regular incomes, bought land, and lent money to poor neighbors.
The poor pastoralists, who depended entirely on their herds, suffered the most during wars and droughts. They had to go to towns to work as charcoal burners, construction workers, or casual laborers to survive.
Quick Revision Summary 📝
Nomads move cyclically based on seasons. Mountains (summer/winter), Plains (dry/monsoon).
In India, British laws like Waste Land Rules, Forest Acts, and the Criminal Tribes Act severely restricted the lives and livelihoods of pastoral communities.
In Africa, the Maasai lost 60% of their land when European powers drew colonial borders and converted prime grazing lands into National Parks.
Colonial policies fundamentally altered the social structure of communities, often making the rich richer and forcing the poor to give up their traditional lifestyles.
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