Tag: history

First, the colonial state wanted to transform all grazing lands into cultivated farms. Land revenue was one of the main sources of its finance. By expanding cultivation it could increase its revenue collection. It could at the same time produce more jute, cotton, wheat and other agricultural produce that were required in England. To colonial officials all uncultivated land appeared to be unproductive: it produced neither revenue nor agricultural produce. It was seen as ‘waste land’ that needed to be brought under cultivation. 

Gujjar Bakarwals in India are spread throughout the northern part of the Himalayan Range. This includes the states of Uttarakhand,Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. In Jammu and Kashmir  in India, Bakarwals are also found in all the three regions of the state including Jammu(comprising districts of Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri Districts), the Kashmir Valley (comprising the districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama, Budgam and Anantnag) and Ladakh(comprising Kargil).  

When grazing lands were taken over and turned into cultivated fields, the available area of pastureland declined. Similarly, the reservation of forests meant that shepherds and cattle herders could no longer freely pasture their cattle in the forests. 

Under colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed dramatically. When grazing lands were taken over and turned into cultivated fields, the available area of pastureland declined.  When restrictions were imposed on pastoral movements, grazing lands came to be continuously used and the quality of pastures declined. This, in turn, created a further shortage of forage for animals and the deterioration of animal stock. Underfed cattle died in large numbers during scarcities and famines.

Banjaras are a well-known group of graziers. They were to be found in the villages of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In search of good pastureland for their cattle, they moved over long distances, selling plow cattle and other goods to villagers in exchange for grain and fodder.

The Maasai lost about 60 percent of their pre-colonial lands. They were confined to an arid zone with uncertain rainfall and poor pastures. The loss of the finest grazing lands and water resources created pressure on the small area of land that the Maasai were confined within. Continuous grazing within a small area inevitably meant a deterioration of the quality of pastures. Fodder was always in short supply.

In the early twentieth century their population in this region was estimated to be 467,000. Most of them were shepherds, some were blanket weavers, and still others were buffalo herders. 

 Many of them migrated to this region in the nineteenth century in search of pastures for their animals. 

In the deserts of Rajasthan lived the Raikas. the Raikas combined cultivation with pastoralism. During  the monsoons, the Raikas of  Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner stayed in their home villages, where pasture was available. The camel herders of the region are Maru (desert) Raikas, and their settlement is called a dhandi.

The Kurumas and Kurubas reared sheep and goats and sold woven blankets. They lived near the woods, cultivated small patches of land, engaged in a variety of petty trades and took care of their herds. In the dry season they moved to the coastal tracts, and left when the rains came.