Pastoralists in the Modern World | 10 Minutes Rapid Revision | Class 9 SST

Summary

This video delves into the nomadic pastoral communities in India and Africa, focusing on their seasonal movements, challenges faced due to colonial rule, and their survival strategies. In India, it covers communities like the Gujjar Bakarwals and Gaddi shepherds, highlighting their movements across regions based on seasonal changes. It also discusses the impact of colonial rule on grazing lands, forest restrictions, and the imposition of taxes. In Africa, the Maasai community's struggle with land division and movement restrictions under British colonialism is explored. Despite the adversities, these communities adapted and managed to survive, maintaining their rich traditions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pastoralism is about the movement of shepherd communities who guide their animals from one grazing land to another, with seasonal migration being a core practice.
• 😀 In India, pastoral communities like the Gujjar Bakarwal and Gaddi Sufers engage in seasonal movements from lower hills to higher terrains in search of better grazing grounds.
• 😀 Similar seasonal movements are observed in Kumaon and Garhwal ranges, where shepherds move their animals to alpine meadows (bugyals) during the summer.
• 😀 In dry regions of Maharashtra and other parts of India, pastoral communities like the Dhangars depend on seasonal rains for grazing and later move to fertile coastal lands.
• 😀 Desert areas like Rajasthan have unique pastoral communities like the Raikas who combine cultivation and pastoralism, moving to different areas depending on the monsoon.
• 😀 Colonial rule significantly affected pastoral communities by restricting grazing lands and limiting their movement, with new land policies and taxation systems introduced by the British.
• 😀 The British colonial government aimed to replace grazing lands with agricultural lands to increase tax revenues, which restricted pastoral communities' access to their traditional grazing areas.
• 😀 The implementation of forest laws and the requirement of permits for movement made it difficult for pastoral communities to access certain forests, affecting their grazing practices.
• 😀 The imposition of taxes on livestock and land by the British colonial powers further burdened pastoral communities, limiting their resources and impacting the health of their cattle.
• 😀 Despite these challenges, pastoral communities adapted by adjusting their livestock numbers, changing routes, or even shifting to settled agriculture, ensuring their survival and resilience.
• 😀 In Africa, the Maasai community, like pastoral communities in India, faced similar challenges due to colonial powers dividing their land and restricting their movements, impacting their traditional lifestyle.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the chapter in the script?

The chapter primarily focuses on pastoralist communities and their seasonal movements in both India and Africa, examining how colonial rule affected their way of life.

What does the term 'Pasto List' refer to?

'Pasto List' refers to pastoralist communities, specifically nomadic herders who move with their livestock and adjust their movements according to seasonal changes in grazing land.

How do pastoralist communities in India move seasonally?

In India, pastoralist communities such as the Gujjar Bakarwal in the Shivalik hills move with their livestock from lower elevations in winter to higher regions in Kashmir as the snow melts, and they return as the weather cools in September.

What is the significance of the 'Gaddi Saffars' in Himachal Pradesh?

The Gaddi Saffars in Himachal Pradesh follow a similar seasonal movement, migrating to higher elevations in summer for grazing and returning in winter to their farming areas.

What challenges do dry-region pastoralists like the 'Dhers' in Maharashtra face?

Pastoralists in dry regions like Maharashtra, such as the Dhers, have to adapt to seasonal changes by staying in their areas during the rainy season for grazing, and then moving to coastal regions with fertile soil once the rains subside.

What impact did colonial rule have on pastoralist communities in India?

Colonial rule severely impacted pastoralist communities by reducing their grazing lands, restricting their movements through forest laws, and imposing taxes on livestock, all of which disrupted their traditional ways of life.

How did colonial powers restrict the movement of pastoralist communities?

Colonial powers, especially the British, imposed restrictions on pastoralists' movements by introducing forest laws, requiring permits to enter grazing areas, and placing taxes on land and livestock, making it difficult for them to follow their traditional seasonal movements.

What happened to the Maasai community in Africa under colonial rule?

The Maasai community in Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania, saw their grazing lands divided and reduced due to colonial powers. Their land was often given to white settlers or turned into national parks, which severely restricted their movement and grazing opportunities.

How did the Maasai community's social structure change during colonial rule?

The Maasai community's social structure changed under colonial rule as the British introduced chiefs who took control over decisions that were previously made by elders and warriors. This disrupted their traditional decision-making process and led to further social divisions.

How did pastoralists in both India and Africa manage to survive under colonial rule?

Despite the challenges, pastoralists adapted by changing their routes, reducing the number of animals, shifting occupations, and in some cases, settling as cultivators. Some also formed new relationships with local farmers, or took loans to survive the harsh conditions.