important Questions and Answers from Chapter: Pastoralists in the Modern World (Class 9

1. Who are pastoralists?

Answer:
Pastoralists are nomadic or semi-nomadic people who depend on livestock rearing for their livelihood. They move from place to place in search of pasture and water for their animals.

2. Name two pastoral communities from India.

Answer:

Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir
Raikas of Rajasthan

3. Why did pastoralists move from one place to another?

Answer:
Pastoralists moved to:

Find fresh pastures and water
Avoid overgrazing
Follow seasonal migration patterns based on climate and vegetation

4. What was the impact of colonial forest laws on pastoralists?

Answer:
Colonial forest laws:

Restricted access to forests and grazing lands
Turned many areas into reserved forests
Made it illegal for pastoralists to enter forests without permission, leading to loss of livelihood

5. What was the Criminal Tribes Act? How did it affect pastoralists?

Answer:
The Criminal Tribes Act (1871) declared many nomadic tribes as criminals by birth.
Effect:

They were watched constantly by the police.
Needed permits to move.
Faced discrimination and harassment.

6. What is grazing tax? Why was it introduced?

Answer:
Grazing tax was a tax imposed on each head of cattle grazing on government land.
It was introduced to:

Earn revenue from pastoral communities
Regulate and control their movement

7. How did the Dhangars of Maharashtra earn their living?

Answer:
The Dhangars:

Were shepherds who migrated during the dry season to the Konkan region.
Traded manure and wool for rice and grains.
Returned to dry lands during monsoon.

8. Who are the Maasai? Where do they live?

Answer:
The Maasai are a pastoral tribe of East Africa, living in Kenya and Tanzania.

They are cattle herders and view cattle as a sign of wealth and status.

9. How were the Maasai affected by European colonial policies?