PASTORIALISTS

1.“Under the colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed dramatically.
” Mention any
four factors responsible for this change.
Or
How did the life of pastoralists change dramatically during the colonial period ?
Explain.
Answer:
 After colonialisation, their mobility was restricted. Now the people had
limited area to move.
 The new rulers encouraged settlement which had an adverse impact on
the herds and the people.
 The colonies were to be used as a source of raw material, so the new
rulers encouraged commercial
agriculture. The pastures were converted into big farms.
 To exploit the natural resources of their colonies, the European
countries started building roads and railway tracks. This resulted in the
loss of pastures.
In
How did the Forest Acts change the life of pastoralists ?

Answer:
The Forest Acts change the life of pastoralists in the following ways :
(a) Forest Acts were enacted to protect and preserve forests for timber which was of
commercial importance.
(b) They were now prevented from entering many forests that had earlier provided
valuable forage for their cattle. Even in the areas they were allowed entry, their
movement were regulated.
(c) They were issued permits which monitored their entry into and exit from forests.
They could not stay in the forests as much as they liked because the permit specified
the periods in which they could be legally within a forest. If they overstayed they
were liable to fives.
Explain any three laws which were introduced by the colonial government in India,
which changed the lives of pastoralists.
Answer:
 From the mid-nineteenth century, Wasteland Rules were enacted in

various parts of the country. By these rules uncultivated lands were
taken over and given to selected ‘ individuals.
 By the mid-nineteenth century, various Forest Acts were also enacted in
different provinces. Through these Acts some forests which produced
valuable timber like deodar or sal were declared ‘Reserved’. No
pastoralist was allowed access to these forests. Other forests were
classified as ‘protected’.
 In 1871, the colonial government in India passed the ‘Criminal Tribes
Act’. By this Act, many communities of craftsmen, traders and
pastoralists were classified as Criminal Tribes. They were stated to be
criminal by nature and birth. Once this act came into force, these
communities were expected to live only in notified village settlements.
 To expand its revenue income, the colonial government looked for every
possible source of taxation. So, tax was imposed on land, on canal
water, on salt, on trade goods, and even on animals (the Grazing Tax).
(Any three)
How did the Indian pastoralists cope with the changes that was brought about by the
British colonial officials ?
Answer:
Under colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed dramatically. Their grazing
grounds shrank, their movements were regulated, and the revenue they had to pay
increased.
 Some reduced the number of cattle in their herds, since there was not
enough pasture to feed large numbers.
 Others discovered new pastures when movement to old grazing
grounds became difficult. After 1947, the camel and sheep herding
Raikas, for instance, could no longer move into Sindh and graze their
camels on the banks of the Indus, as they had done earlier
 In recent years they have been migrating to Haryana where sheep can
graze on agricultural fields after the harvests are cut. This is the time
that the fields need manure that the animals provide.
 Over the years, some richer pastoralists began buying land and settling
down, giving up their nomadic life. Some became settled peasants
cultivating land, others took to more extensive trading.
 Many poor pastoralists, on the other hand, borrowed money from
moneylenders to survive. At times they lost their cattle and sheep and
became labourers, working on fields or in small towns.
 How did the pastoralists cope with the changes brought about by the new
laws?
Answer:
Pastoralists reacted to these changes in a variety of ways. Some reduced the
number of cattle in their herds, since there was not enough pasture to feed
large numbers. Others discovered new pastures, when old grazing grounds
were banned by the government.
 Over the years, some rich pastoralists began buying land and settling down,
giving up their nomadic life they settled down to cultivating land. Others took
to extensive trading.
 Poor pastoralists, borrowed money from moneylenders to survive, at times
they lost their cattle and sheep and became labourers, working on fields or in
small towns.
The changes that took place in India, was also seen in other parts of the
world. New laws and settlement patterns forced pastoral communities to alter
their lives.
Why the Colonial government introduced the Waste Land Rules ? Explain the impact
of Waste Land Rules on the pastoral communities.
Answer:
(a) Waste land Rules : Under this, uncultivated land was brought under cultivation.
Reasons :
 Revenue : The basic aim was to increase land revenue because by

expanding cultivation Government could increase its revenue collection.
 Raw materials : Crops like jute, cotton and indigo were used as raw
material in England. So the British government wanted to bring more
and more areas under these crops.
Impact on the lives of the pastoralists :
 After the Act, the mobility of nomads was restricted.

 Under the Act the grazing land was given to big landlords. Due to this
nomads’ grazing grounds shrank.
 Due to shrinking grazing grounds, the agricultural stock of the nomads
declined and their trade and crafts were adversely affected.
Why was Criminal Tribes Act passed ? Explain its impact on the pastoral
communities.
Answer:
 British officials were suspicious of nomadic people. They distrusted

mobile craftsmen and traders who hawked their goods in villages and
pastoralists who changed their places of residence every season,
moving in search of good pastures for their herds.
 The colonial government wanted to rule over a settled population. They
wanted the rural people to live in villages, in fixed places with fixed rights
on particular fields. Such a population was easy to identify and control.
 Those who were settled were seen as peaceable and law abiding: those
who were nomadic were considered to be criminals.
 Through this Act the pastoral communities were not allowed to move
freely. This restricted their grazing grounds and the deterioration of
animal stock
Under the colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed dramatically.” Mention any
four factors responsible for this change.
Or
How did the life of pastoralists change dramatically during the colonial period ?
Explain. [
Answer.
 After colonialisation, their mobility was restricted. Now the people had
limited area to move.
 The new rulers encouraged settlement which had an adverse impact on
the herds and the people.
 The colonies were to be used as a source of raw material, so the new
rulers encouraged commercial
agriculture. The pastures were converted into big farms.
 To exploit the natural resources of their colonies, the European
countries started building roads and railway tracks. This resulted in the
loss of pastures.
Under colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed dramatically. Explain.

Or
Explain the various laws introduced by the British and explain how these laws
changed the lives of the pastoralists.
Answer:
(a) Waste land Rules : Under this, uncultivated land was brought under
cultivation.The basic aim was to increase land revenue because by expanding
cultivation Government could increase its revenue collection.
Impact on the lives of the pastoralists :
 After the Act, the mobility of nomads was restricted.

 Under the Act the grazing land was given to big landlords. Due to this
nomads’ grazing grounds shrank.
 Due to shrinking grazing grounds, the agricultural stock of the nomads
declined and their trade and crafts were adversely affected.
(b) Forest Acts: Under the Forest Acts forest were classified into :
 Reserved Forests
 Protected forests
Impact on the lives of the pastoralists :
 They were now prevented from entering many forests. So there was a
reduction in their grazing grounds.
 After the laws, their movements were regulated.
(c) Criminal Tribes Act: In 1871, the colonial government in India passed the Criminal
Tribes Act. By this Act, many communities of craftsmen, traders and pastoralists
were classified as Criminal Tribes. They were stated to be criminal by nature and
birth. Once this Act came into force, these communities were expected to live only in
notified village settlements. They were not allowed to move out without a permit. The
village police kept a continuous watch on them.
This restricted their grazing grounds. Their agricultural stock declined, and their
trades and crafts were adversely affected.
(d) Grazing Tax: The Grazing tax was imposed on the pastoralists. Pastoralists had
to pay tax on every animal they grazed on the pastures. In most pastoral tracts of
India, grazing tax was introduced in the mid-nineteenth century.

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1.“Under the colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed dramatically.

How did the Forest Acts change the life of pastoralists ?

 From the mid-nineteenth century, Wasteland Rules were enacted in

 Revenue : The basic aim was to increase land revenue because by

Impact on the lives of the pastoralists :

 After the Act, the mobility of nomads was restricted.

 British officials were suspicious of nomadic people. They distrusted

Under colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed dramatically. Explain.

 After the Act, the mobility of nomads was restricted.

Impact on the lives of the pastora- lists :

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