Pastoralists in the Modern World-Question Answer

Chapter-Pastoralists in the Modern World
Exercise Question Answers
Class-9
Subject-Social studies(History)

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Q1. Explain why nomadic tribes need to move from one place to another. What are the advantages to the environment of this continuous moment?
Answer:- 

Nomadic tribes have to move from one place to earn their leaving and to find pastures for their animals. 

All of them had to adjust to seasonal changes and make effective use of availablepastures in different places. 

When thepastures was exhausted or unusable in one place, they moved their heards and flocks to new areas. 

This continuous movement has advantages to their environment in the following ways:- 

a)  The pastoral movements allowed time for the natural restoration of vegetation growth.
b)  The flocks manured the fields.

Q2. Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In Each case, explain how the laws changed the lives of the pastoralist-
a)  Waste Land Rules
b)  Forest Acts
 c) Criminal Tribes Act
d)  Grazing Tax
Answer:- 

a)  Waste Land Rules:- 

To colonial officials, all uncultivated land was unproductive, it produced neither revenue nor agricultural produce. It was considered as wasteland. Wasteland rules were enacted in the mid 19th century in many parts of the country. By these rules, uncultivated land was taken over and given to select individuals.   In most places, the land taken over was the grazing tracks used by the pastoralist. So expanstion of cultivation meant less pasture for the animals.

b)  Forest Acts:- 

In the mid 19th century, various Forest Acts were enacted in different provinces. Through these acts, forrests were divided into Reserved Forest and Protected forest. The pastoralist had no access to reserve forests.  In the Protected forest, some grazing rights were given to the pastoralists. But there movement was restricted. The Forest Acts changed the lives of the pastoralist.  They were prevented from entering many forest. The pastoralists now need a permit for entry.

 c) Criminal Tribes Act:- 

The colonial government wanted to rule over a settled population. The colonial people were suspicious of nomadic and pastoral tribes who moved from place to place and hawkled their goods. In 1871, the colonial government passed the Criminal Tribes Act. According to this act, many communities of pastoralists, craftsmen and traders were classified at criminal tribes.  These communities had to live only in notified village settlements. They were not allowed to move out without a permit The police kept a continuous watch on these people.

d)  Grazing Tax:- 

The aim of the colonial government was to collect as much as revenue as possible, so text was imposed on land, Water, salt, trade goods, and animals. By 1880 each pastoralist was given a pass. Each cattle harder had to pay tax for each Cattle head.  The amount paid was entered on the pass.

Q3. Give reasons to explain why the Maasai community lost their grasing lands.

Answer:- 

1. Before colonial times, Maasailand stretched over vast area from North Kenya to the steppes of northern Tanzania.
2. In 1885,  Maasailand was cut into half with an International boundary between British Kenya and German Tanganyika.  
3. The best grazing lands were gradually taken over for white settlement. The Maasai remained in small area.
4.  The Maasai lost 60% of their pre colonial lands. 
 5. From the late 19th century, pasture lands were converted into cultivated lands.
6. Large areas of grazing Maasailand was converted into game reserves like Maasai Mara and Samburu National Park in Kenya and Serengeti park in Tanzania.

Q4. There are many similarities in the way in which the modern world forced changes in the lives of pastoral communities in India and East Africa. Write about any two examples of changes which were similar for Indian pastoralist and the Maasai herders.

Answer. 

1. In India,  by the mid 19th century, various forest act were passed.  Through these acts,  some forest, which produced commercially valuable timber like Deodar and Sal, were declared reserved.  No pastoralist was allowed access to this forestes. In protected forest, some customary rights of the pastorlist were granted, but their movement was restricted.  

In Maasailand,  large areas of grazing land where turned into game reserves.  Pastoralist could not enter the reserves. They could neither hunt animals nor graze their herds.

2.  Forest act changed the lives of the pastoralist. They could not enter many forest, which had earlier provide forage for their cattle.  They need a permit for entry. Their entry and departure was specified, and the number of days they could spend.

 The pastoral groups in Africa were forced to stay within the limits of the reserves. They could not move out with their stock without special permits.  It was difficult to get permits.

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