Answer The Following Question.
1. Explain why nomadic tribes need to move from one place to another. What are the advantages to the environment of this continuous movement?
Ans: Nomadic tribes move to different areas for several reasons, primarily to ensure the survival of their animals. The key factors driving their movement are:
Animal Husbandry Needs: They seek fresh pastures and water sources for their herds. When a grazing area becomes depleted, they move to new areas.
Environmental Benefits:
Regrowth of Vegetation: The land gets time to regenerate and recover from grazing pressures, helping maintain ecological balance.
Prevention of Overgrazing: Moving regularly prevents the exhaustion of grazing lands, ensuring sustainability.
Soil Fertility: The manure from their animals helps fertilize the soil, promoting future regrowth in areas they return to.
2. Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In each case, explain how the law changed the lives of the pastoralists.
Ans: (a) Wasteland Rules:
The colonial government saw uncultivated land as unproductive. The Wasteland Rules aimed to convert these lands into productive areas by promoting agricultural cultivation. These lands were often used by pastoralists for grazing. The introduction of agriculture led to a decrease in available grazing land, affecting the pastoralists who relied on it for their livelihood.
(b) Forest Acts:
The colonial authorities enacted forest acts to control timber resources for commercial purposes. Certain forests were designated as ‘Reserved,’ denying pastoralists access. In ‘Protected’ forests, they had limited grazing rights, and their movement was strictly regulated. These laws made pastoralists dependent on permits from forest departments and restricted their traditional lifestyle.
(c) Criminal Tribes Act:
Nomadic and pastoralist communities were considered suspicious by the British. The Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 labeled these communities as criminals by birth and forced them to settle. They could no longer move freely and had to stay in one place under the surveillance of local authorities, severely restricting their traditional way of life.
(d) Grazing Tax:
The colonial government imposed a tax on grazing, which affected pastoralists directly. They had to pay a tax for each animal they grazed. This led to a reduction in the number of animals they could graze, as they tried to minimize their tax burden. The introduction of this tax added financial pressure on pastoralist communities.
3. Give reasons to explain why the Maasai community lost their grazing lands.
Ans: The Maasai community lost their grazing lands due to colonial boundaries and policies. In 1885, the region was divided between British Kenya and German Tanzania, and the Maasai were forced into a smaller area. The best grazing lands were allocated to white settlers, while large portions were turned into game reserves, such as Maasai Mara and Serengeti. These areas were off-limits for grazing or hunting, which greatly reduced the available land for the Maasai’s pastoralist activities.
4. 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 pastoralists and the Maasai herders.
Ans: (I) Forest Laws:
In both India and East Africa, forest laws were enacted that restricted access to traditional grazing lands. In India, the British classified forests as ‘Reserved’ and ‘Protected,’ restricting the movement of pastoralists. Similarly, in East Africa, colonial authorities took control of grazing lands and set up game reserves, prohibiting the Maasai from accessing their traditional pastures.
(II) Closing of Borders:
The division of lands by colonial powers also affected the pastoralists in both regions. In East Africa, Maasailand was split between British Kenya and German Tanganyika, leading to the loss of valuable grazing land. In India, the partition of the country in 1947 forced the Raikas to find new pastures, as they were no longer allowed to graze in Sindh, which became part of Pakistan. Both communities lost access to grazing areas due to the arbitrary borders drawn by colonial powers.
These examples highlight the similar challenges faced by pastoral communities in India and East Africa due to colonial policies that restricted their traditional movements and access to resources.