Pastoralists in the modern world

Prepared by Nehasree of Grade 9, Akara world schools. Tiruchirappalli

1. Pastoralists in the modern world Pastoral Nomads and their Movements Prepared by. Neha sree C.V.D - grade – 9 Akara world schools, Tiruchirappalli

2. Who are nomads? Nomads are people who do not live in one place but move from one place to another for their living.

3. Nomadic pastoralism Pastoral nomadism is a form of subsistence agriculture based on the herding of domesticated animals. It is adapted to dry climates, where planting crops is extremely difficult.

4. 1.1 In the mountains

5. Pastoral nomads In the mountains In this chapter we are going to study mainly four divisions: The Gujar Bakarwals, The Gaddi Shepherds Movement in Garhwal and Kumaon, Other Pastoral nomads.

6. Gujar Bakarwals Gujar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir herd goat and sheep till date .Migrated into J&K in search of pasture and eventually expanded there. They alternate between their winter ground (low hills of Shivalik) and go to their summer grazing grounds (Valley of Kashmir)by the end of April.

7. They make the latter journey as a group of several households called khalifa.

8. The Gaddi shepherds Similarly the Gaddi shepherd in Himanchal Pradesh also graze their herd in Shivalik in winters while they go to Lahul and Spiti in summer where they reap their summer harvest and sow winter crops.

9. When the snow melted and the high passes were clear, many of them moved on to higher mountain meadows. By September they began their return movement. On the way, they stop at the villages of Lahul and Spiti, reaping their summer harvest.

10. Then they descended with their flock to their winter grazing ground on the Siwalik hills.

11. Garhwal and Kumaon In Garhwal and Kumaon, the Gujjar cattle herders come down to the dry forests of Bhabar in winters, and go higher meadow "bugyals" in summer. Most of them originally from J&K reached hills in UP in search of pasture.

12. The cyclic movement of winter and summer pastures was typical of most Himalayan communities.  

13. Allowed them to adjust to seasonal change. Continuous movement allowed pastures to recover.

14. 1.2 ON THE PLATEAUS,PLAINS AND DESERTS

15. Groups of people in plateaus, plains and mountains Not all pastoralists operated in the mountains. They were also to be found in the plateaus, plains and deserts of India. There are 3 groups of people. They are: The Dhangars, The Gollas, Kurumas and Kurubas, The Raikas.

16. Dhangars Dhangars was a large community in Maharashtra. Most of them herded sheep though some wove blankets, raised buffaloes etc.

17. Mainly stayed in the central plateau of Maharashtra in monsoon (semi-arid region) . In monsoon it became a vast grazing ground for their herd. By October, harvest their bajra and move west.

18. Reach Konkan after a month (high rainfall , rich soil). Konkani peasants welcomed the Dhangars as after the kharif harvest, the field was to be. Fertilized and prepared for rabi crops. Dhangar flocks manured and ate the stubble.

19. Peasants also gave them rice which was rare in their plateau. Returned to their plateau with onset of monsoon as sheep cannot tolerate the wet conditions.

20. THE GOLLAS,KURMBAS AND KURUBAS Gollas: In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh: Gollas herded cattle.

21. Kurumas Kurumas and Kurubas reared sheep and goat and sold woven blankets.

22. Kurubas In plateaus the cyclic movements were defined by the monsoon and the dry season.

23. In dry season they moved to coastal tracts and return when the rains came as most of the animals except buffaloes couldn't tolerate the wet swampy conditions.

24. Banjaras Banjaras were found in Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradhesh , Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Moved great distances for good pasture land. Sold plough cattle etc in exchange of grain and fodder.

25. Raikas Raikas lived in the deserts of Rajasthan. During monsoon, Raikas stayed in their home villages where pasture was available.

26. After exhausting the land by October, moved out in search of pasture and water. They returned next monsoon. Maru i.e. desert Raikas herded camels while another reared sheep and goat.

27. Nehaa sree G-9