Page 64 - Sst Class - IX

5. Pastoralists in the Modern World
5. Pastoralists in the Modern World

Memory Points
Memory Points
• In the nineteenth century, Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir migrated to the mountains in
search of pastures for their animals.
• During the winter, they moved to the low hills of the Siwalik range. By the end of April, they began
their northern march for their summer grazing grounds. This journey is known as a kafila. Again,
they started their march by the end of September, this time back to their winter base. The Gaddi
shepherds of Himachal Pradesh also had a similar cycle of seasonal movement.

• The Gujjar cattle herds from the further east came down to the dry forests of the Bhabar in the winter
and went up to the high meadows – the Bugyals – in summer. This pattern of cyclical movement
between summer and winter pastures was typical of many pastoral communities of the Himalayas,
including the Bhotiyas, Sherpas, and Kinnauris.
• Pastoralists were also found in the plateaus, plains, and deserts of India.

• In Maharashtra, Dhangars were an important pastoral community that were mostly shepherds,
blanket weavers, and buffalo herders. During the monsoon, they used to stay in the central plateau of
Maharashtra. By October, the Dhangars harvest their bajra and move to the west. After they reached
Konkan, they were welcomed by Konkani peasants. After the Kharif harvest was cut, the fields had to
be fertilised and made ready for the rabi harvest.
• In the state of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the dry central plateau was covered with stone and

grass, inhabited by cattle, goats, and sheepherders called Gollas herded cattle.
• The Kurumas and Kurubas reared sheep and goats and sold woven blankets. During the dry season,
they moved to the coastal tracts and left when the rains came.
• Banjaras were yet another well-known group of graziers found in the villages of Uttar Pradesh,
Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

• Raikas lived in the deserts of Rajasthan. During the monsoons, the Raikas of Barmer, Jaisalmer,
Jodhpur, and Bikaner stayed in their villages, where pasture was available. By October, they moved
out in search of other pastures and water and returned again during the next monsoon.

• Pastoralists’ life was changed completely under colonial rule. Their movements were regulated,
grazing grounds shrank, and the revenue they had to pay increased.
• When restrictions were imposed on pastoral movements, grazing lands came to be continuously
used and the quality of pastures declined.
• Pastoralists reduced the number of cattle and some discovered new pastures.

• After 1947, the new political boundaries between India and Pakistan stopped the camel and sheep
herding Raikas to graze their camels on the banks of the Indus.

• Over the years, some richer pastoralists bought land and settled down, giving up their nomadic life.

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