Class 9 Social Science (History) Chapter 5 Pastoralists In The Modern World

Key Concept: Seasonal Movement

b) Spring

[Solution Description]

The Gujjar Bakarwals begin their northern march to summer grazing grounds by the end of April, as the snow melts and the mountainsides become lush green with nutritious forage for their herds.

Key Concept: Pastoralism Basics

b) They move from one place to another

[Solution Description]

Nomadic pastoralists are people who do not live in one place but move from one area to another to earn their living. They travel with their herds of animals such as goats, sheep, camels, or cattle.

Key Concept: Impact of Colonialism

b) Shortage of pastures

[Solution Description]

Colonial rule led to a shortage of pastures as grazing lands were turned into cultivated fields and forests were reserved. This restricted the movement of pastoralists and caused a decline in the quality of pastures.

Key Concept: Cyclical Movement of Pastoralists

d) To utilize different pastures seasonally

[Solution Description]

The cyclical movement of pastoral communities like the Gujjars is primarily due to the need to adjust to seasonal changes and make effective use of available pastures in different places. This movement ensures that the pastures are not overused and have time to recover, maintaining ecological balance.

Key Concept: Pastoralism Adaptation

b) Migrated to Haryana for grazing on agricultural fields post-harvests.

[Solution Description]

After 1947, the political boundaries between India and Pakistan stopped the movement of camel and sheep herding Raikas into Sindh. To adapt, they had to find new grazing areas. They started migrating to Haryana, where their sheep could graze on agricultural fields after harvests. This also provided manure for the fields. Additionally, some pastoralists reduced herd sizes or combined pastoral activities with other income sources.

Key Concept: Seasonal Movement of Pastoralists

a) To avoid harsh weather conditions

[Solution Description]

The Gujjar Bakarwals move seasonally to find suitable pastures for their herds. In winter, they stay in the low hills of the Siwalik range because the high mountains are covered with snow. By April, they move to the valley of Kashmir for summer grazing as the snow melts and lush green pastures become available. This cycle ensures that their herds have access to nutritious forage throughout the year.

Key Concept: Pastoral Migration Pattern

b) Summer

[Solution Description]

The Gujjar Bakarwals migrate to their summer grazing grounds in the month of April, which marks the beginning of summer. This is when the high mountains become accessible as the snow melts, providing lush green pastures for their herds.

Key Concept: Seasonal Movement

c) Low hills of Siwalik range

[Solution Description]

The Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh spend their winter in the low hills of the Siwalik range, grazing their flocks in scrub forests.

Key Concept: Cyclical Movement

b) Dry forests (bhabar)

[Solution Description]

The Gujjar cattle herders migrate to the dry forests of the bhabar during the winter season. This is a part of their cyclical movement pattern between summer and winter pastures.

Key Concept: Movement of Gujjar cattle herders

b) Dry forests of bhabar

[Solution Description]

The syllabus mentions that the Gujjar cattle herders came down to the dry forests of the bhabar in the winter. This was a part of their cyclical movement between summer and winter pastures.

Key Concept: Pastoral Communities

b) Bhotiyas

[Solution Description]

The Bhotiyas, Sherpas, and Kinnauris are pastoral communities in the Himalayas that practice cyclical movement between summer and winter pastures to make effective use of available pastures and allow them to recover.

Key Concept: Pastoral Communities

c) Gujjars

[Solution Description]

The Gujjar cattle herders originally from Jammu migrated to the UP hills in the 19th century in search of good pastures. This migration was driven by the need for better grazing lands for their cattle.

Key Concept: Pastoral Community

c) Maru Raikas

[Solution Description]

The Raikas are a well-known pastoral community in Rajasthan. Among them, the Maru (desert) Raikas specifically herd camels. This is mentioned in the syllabus under the section about pastoralists in the deserts of Rajasthan.

Key Concept: Dhangars’ Occupation

c) Shepherds

[Solution Description]

The primary occupation of most Dhangars in Maharashtra during the early twentieth century was shepherding. Some were also blanket weavers or buffalo herders, but the majority were shepherds.

Key Concept: Seasonal Migration

b) Monsoon and dry season

[Solution Description]

The Kurumas and Kurubas lived in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where their seasonal rhythms were not influenced by cold or snow but by the alternation of the monsoon and dry season. During the dry season, they moved to coastal tracts, and during the monsoon, they shifted back to the dry plateau.

Key Concept: Banjaras’ Regions

c) Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan

[Solution Description]

The Banjaras were found in the villages of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. These regions were significant for their activities as pastoralists.

Key Concept: Maru Raikas

d) Camels

[Solution Description]

The Maru Raikas are one group of Raikas who are specifically known for herding camels.

Key Concept: Maru Raikas

b) Camel herders in Rajasthan

[Solution Description]

The Maru Raikas are a group of camel herders in the desert region of Rajasthan. They specialize in herding camels and their settlements are known as dhandi. They move with their herds in search of pasture and water, especially when the grazing grounds in their home villages dry up.

Key Concept: Seasonal Movement of Pastoralists

b) To find fresh pastures for their herds

[Solution Description]

The primary reason for the seasonal movement of pastoralists like the Gaddis and Gujjars is to find fresh pastures for their herds. During winter, they move to lower altitudes where the climate is warmer and there is more pasture available. In summer, they move to higher altitudes where the snow has melted, and fresh grass is available. This cyclical movement helps in preventing overgrazing and allows pastures to recover.

Key Concept: Herders, Seasonal Rhythms

b) The alternation of the monsoon and dry seasons.

[Solution Description]

The seasonal movements of the pastoralists in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were primarily determined by the alternation of the monsoon and dry seasons. Unlike mountain pastoralists, who moved due to cold and snow, these pastoralists shifted their herds to the coastal tracts during the dry season and returned to the dry plateau during the monsoon to avoid the swampy, wet conditions of the coastal areas.

Key Concept: Impact of Criminal Tribes Act

c) It forced them to settle in notified villages

[Solution Description]

The Criminal Tribes Act classified many communities of craftsmen, traders, and pastoralists as criminal tribes. These communities were expected to live in notified village settlements and were not allowed to move out without a permit. This act severely restricted their traditional way of life and subjected them to continuous police surveillance.

Key Concept: Criminal Tribes Act

d) To exert greater control over a mobile population

[Solution Description]

The British colonial government classified certain pastoralist communities as Criminal Tribes under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 primarily because of their suspicion of nomadic people. The colonial authorities distrusted mobile craftsmen, traders, and pastoralists who frequently changed their locations in search of resources. They preferred a settled population that could be easily controlled and monitored. By labeling these nomadic groups as criminal by nature, the government aimed to force them into fixed settlements where they could be closely watched, thereby reducing perceived threats to colonial control.

Key Concept: Criminal Tribes Act

c) To control and surveil mobile populations perceived as criminal

[Solution Description]

The colonial government classified certain nomadic communities, including pastoralists, as Criminal Tribes because they distrusted mobile populations. They believed settled communities were easier to control and identified nomadic groups as criminal by nature. This Act forced these communities to live in notified settlements under surveillance, restricting their mobility.

Key Concept: Taxation on Pastoralists

c) To expand revenue income for the colonial government.

[Solution Description]

The colonial government imposed grazing tax on pastoralists to expand its revenue income. This tax was levied on every animal they grazed, and the system of collection became increasingly efficient, further burdening the pastoralists.

Key Concept: Loss of Grazing Lands, Drought Impact

c) Large-scale starvation and death of cattle

[Solution Description]

Confinement to a semi-arid tract during droughts meant the Maasai could not move their cattle to areas with better forage. This led to large-scale starvation and death of cattle, as the available pastures in the confined area were insufficient to sustain the animal stock during dry spells.

Key Concept: Pastoral Adaptation, Political Boundaries

b) New political boundaries restricted their movement.

[Solution Description]

The Raikas, who were camel and sheep herders, traditionally moved into Sindh to graze their animals on the banks of the Indus River. However, after the partition of India in 1947, new political boundaries between India and Pakistan restricted their movement. This forced them to find new grazing areas, such as Haryana, where they could graze their sheep on agricultural fields post-harvest.

Key Concept: Colonial Policies

c) They saw them as dangerous and savage

[Solution Description]

White colonists viewed African pastoralists as dangerous and savage, and sought to minimize contact with them. However, they still relied on black labor for various colonial projects, such as mining and construction.

Key Concept: Pastoralism

c) Continuous grazing in a small area

[Solution Description]

The syllabus states that continuous grazing within a small area inevitably meant a deterioration of the quality of pastures due to the loss of the finest grazing lands and water resources. This was a result of the restrictions imposed by colonial laws.

Key Concept: Effects of Restricted Mobility

c) Imprisonment and inability to access resources

[Solution Description]

The Kaokoland herders faced severe difficulties due to restricted mobility, as they were no longer able to move their cattle to traditional grazing areas like Ovamboland. This confinement led to a lack of resources and hindered their ability to maintain their livelihoods.

Key Concept: Social Structure of Maasai

c) Protecting the tribe and organizing raids

[Solution Description]

In pre-colonial Maasai society, the warriors were primarily responsible for the protection of the tribe. They defended the community and organized cattle raids, which were crucial in a society where cattle represented wealth.

Key Concept: Economic Status of Poor Pastoralists

c) They lost nearly everything

[Solution Description]

Poor pastoralists, who depended solely on their livestock, often lost nearly everything during times of war and famine. They lacked the resources to recover from such crises and had to seek work in towns or take up odd jobs to survive.

Key Concept: Social Structure

c) Protecting the community and organizing cattle raids

[Solution Description]

In pre-colonial Maasai society, the warriors, who were mainly younger people, were responsible for the protection of the tribe. They defended the community and organized cattle raids, which were important for asserting the power of different pastoral groups.

Key Concept: Colonial Restrictions

b) Led to overgrazing and pasture deterioration

[Solution Description]

Colonial restrictions forced the Maasai to graze their cattle continuously within a small area, leading to overgrazing and deterioration of pasture quality. This resulted in a shortage of forage and further decline in animal stock.

Key Concept: Impact of Drought

c) 360,000

[Solution Description]

In 1930, the Maasai possessed 720,000 cattle. During the severe droughts of 1933 and 1934, over half of the cattle died. Half of 720,000 is 360,000.

Key Concept: Economic Activities

b) Selling milk and meat

[Solution Description]

African pastoralists primarily raise cattle, camels, goats, sheep, and donkeys, and they sell products like milk, meat, animal skin, and wool.

Key Concept: Challenges Faced by Poor Pastoralists

b) Losing nearly all their livestock

[Solution Description]

Poor pastoralists, who depended only on their livestock, often lost nearly everything during times of war and famine. They had to seek work in towns, with some finding irregular jobs like charcoal burning or road construction.

Key Concept: Traditional Beliefs of Maasai

b) Crime against nature

[Solution Description]

According to the syllabus, the Maasai believed that tilling the land for crop farming was a crime against nature because once the land is cultivated, it becomes unsuitable for grazing.

Key Concept: Impact of Colonial Policies

c) Severe hardship and loss of trade

[Solution Description]

The colonial policies, such as the closure of borders and restrictions on movement, severely impacted the Kaokoland herders’ ability to trade and access resources. They were unable to take their cattle to Ovamboland or sell their products, leading to significant hardship.

Key Concept: Pastoralism Adaptation, Kaokoland Herders

c) By changing their traditional migration paths and reducing cattle numbers

[Solution Description]

The Kaokoland herders faced severe restrictions on their movement due to new territorial boundaries. They adapted by reducing the number of cattle they owned and changing their traditional migration paths. Despite these adaptations, they still struggled with the loss of access to traditional grazing lands and markets.

Key Concept: Land Loss, Colonial Impact

c) They lost access to traditional grazing lands.

[Solution Description]

The establishment of national parks like Maasai Mara and Serengeti Park resulted in the loss of traditional grazing lands for the Maasai pastoralists. These reserves were created over vast areas that were historically used by the Maasai for grazing their herds. As a result, the Maasai were restricted from accessing these areas, leading to reduced pasture availability and increased difficulties in sustaining their livestock.

Key Concept: Colonial Restrictions, Drought Impact

c) Large-scale death of cattle due to starvation and disease

[Solution Description]

The restriction of Maasai pastoralists to fixed reserves by colonial authorities prevented them from moving their cattle to areas with better pastures during droughts. This led to a significant number of cattle dying due to starvation and disease, as evidenced by the 1930 enquiry which showed that over half the cattle in the Maasai Reserve died during the severe droughts of 1933 and 1934.

Key Concept: Social Changes, Maasai Warriors

c) Protecting the tribe and conducting raids

[Solution Description] In pre-colonial Maasai society, warriors were responsible for the protection of the tribe and organized cattle raids. Raiding was an essential activity as it was a way to assert the power of different pastoral groups and accumulate wealth in the form of cattle. Young men were recognized as warriors after proving their manliness through participation in raids and wars.

Key Concept: Elders and Warriors, Social Changes

d) Defending the community and organising cattle raids

[Solution Description]

In pre-colonial Maasai society, the warriors were primarily responsible for the protection of the tribe. They defended the community and organised cattle raids. Raiding was important in a society where cattle was wealth. It is through raids that the power of different pastoral groups was asserted.

Key Concept: Social Hierarchy, Cattle Raids

c) Organizers of cattle raids and defenders of the tribe

[Solution Description]

In pre-colonial Maasai society, warriors were primarily responsible for the protection of the tribe and organizing cattle raids. These raids were crucial as they were a means of asserting power among different pastoral groups. Warriors proved their manliness and gained recognition by participating in these raids and wars.

Key Concept: Economic Impact, Restrictions on Trade

c) To minimize contact between colonists and pastoralists

[Solution Description]

European colonists viewed African pastoralists as dangerous and savage, minimizing all contact with them. Consequently, pastoralists were barred from entering markets in white areas and restricted from engaging in trade. This exclusion was part of the broader colonial strategy to control and marginalize pastoral communities, while simultaneously relying on their labor for infrastructure development.

Key Concept: Loss of Grazing Lands, Colonial Policies

b) Conversion of pasturelands into cultivated fields

[Solution Description]

The British colonial government encouraged local peasant communities to expand cultivation, which led to the conversion of pasturelands into cultivated fields. This encroachment on grazing lands further reduced the available area for the Maasai to herd their cattle, contributing to the deterioration of their pastoral economy.

Key Concept: Fixed Settlements, Overgrazing

c) Overgrazing and deterioration of pasture quality

[Solution Description]

Colonial restrictions confined pastoralists to specific reserves, limiting their access to grazing lands. This led to continuous grazing in small areas, causing overgrazing and deterioration of pasture quality. The lack of mobility prevented them from rotating pastures, which was essential for maintaining sustainable grazing practices.

Key Concept: Adaptation of Pastoralists

c) Changing the paths of their annual movement

[Solution Description]

Pastoralists have adapted to modern restrictions by changing the paths of their annual movement, reducing their cattle numbers, and pressing for rights to enter new areas. They also exert political pressure on the government for relief, subsidy, and other forms of support, as well as demand a right in the management of forests and water resources. This adaptation ensures their continued relevance and survival in changing times.

Key Concept: Adaptation Strategies

c) Reducing their cattle numbers

[Solution Description]

To cope with modern challenges, pastoralists adopt various strategies. One such strategy is reducing the number of cattle they keep to ensure sustainable grazing. This helps in managing pasture resources more effectively and prevents overgrazing. Thus, the correct answer is reducing their cattle numbers.

Key Concept: Modern Challenges, Adaptation Strategies

b) Changing migration paths and seeking political support

[Solution Description]

Pastoralists face challenges due to new laws and borders that restrict their movement. To adapt, they change the paths of their annual movement, reduce cattle numbers, press for rights to enter new areas, exert political pressure for relief and subsidies, and demand a role in managing forests and water resources. These strategies help them cope with the loss of pasture lands and deteriorating grazing conditions.

Key Concept: Challenges of Modernization, Adaptation

b) Changing migration routes and reducing cattle numbers

[Solution Description] Pastoralists adapt to modernization by changing their annual migration routes, reducing the number of cattle they herd, pressing for rights to access new areas, exerting political pressure on governments for subsidies and relief, and demanding a role in managing forests and water resources. These adaptations help them cope with increasing restrictions on mobility and deteriorating pasture lands.

Key Concept: Economic Recognition, Suitability of Pastoralism

c) It preserves cultural traditions and environmental balance

[Solution Description]

Pastoral nomadism is seen as well-suited to hilly and dry regions because it efficiently utilizes sparse resources like grass and water. It supports biodiversity conservation, reduces land degradation, and sustains cultural heritage. Economically, it provides livelihoods in regions where agriculture or industrial activities are impractical. This recognition highlights its sustainability and relevance in modern environmental and economic contexts.

Key Concept: Migration Patterns, Seasonal Grazing

a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.

[Solution Description]

The assertion states that the Gujjar Bakarwals migrate annually between summer and winter grazing grounds to ensure the availability of nutritious forage for their herds. This is true as the syllabus mentions that they move to low hills in winter where dry scrub forests provide pasture, and in summer, they move to the valley of Kashmir where the mountainsides are lush green with nutritious grasses. The reason given is that the seasonal migration is primarily driven by the need to avoid harsh weather conditions in the high mountains during winter and to take advantage of lush pastures in the valleys during summer. This is also true because the syllabus explicitly states that in winter, the high mountains are covered with snow, making it inhospitable for grazing, while the summer provides rich forage. Furthermore, the reason correctly explains the assertion as the migration is indeed a response to these environmental changes. Therefore, both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.