Revision Notes
Class – 9 History
Chapter 5 – Pastoralists in the Modern World
Nomads are people who do not stay in one place for an extended period. Pastoralists,
on the other hand, are those who own a lot of sheep, goats, or buffaloes. These
animals feed on the area that is appropriate for them. This chapter is dedicated to
these tribes who have been forgotten. We tend to believe that nomadic pastoralists
were ancient people. These tribes, however, were highly active in the recent past and
continue to live in the twenty-first century.
Pastoral Nomads in the Mountains
1. The Gujjar Bakarwal Tribe
● According to Anil Kumar and Naresh Kumar's research, the Gujjar Bakarwal
tribe arrived in Jammu and Kashmir between 1127 and 1154 AD and spent
the summer in the highlands of the state. The J&K mountains provided
excellent grasses for their animals during the summer.
● As winter approached, the Gujjar Bakarwal were forced to relocate to the
Shiwalik range's base.
● Their cattle were given pasture in the dry forests of the little Shiwalik
highlands until April when they returned to the northern mountainous region
of Jammu and Kashmir.
● They had set up several dwellings in the centere of these two areas to make
their journey easier. Kafila was the name given to these households.
2. The Gaddis
In Himachal Pradesh's mountainous regions, the Gaddi tribe was present. The
majority of them were shepherds. They used to come down to the Shiwalik range's
, lower elevations in the winter. They'd then get taller as April approached. They
planned to spend their time in two villages: Lahaul and Spiti. They ascended higher
up the slopes as the snow disappeared. They would then be taken down by
September. They would halt at the two villages in the middle of their voyage to
harvest the crops and seed the winter crops.
3. The Bhotiyas and Gujjars of Himachal Pradesh
The Bhotiyas and Gujjars, like other pastoralists, used to reside in the meadows of
Himachal Pradesh's hilly regions (Buggyal) and climbed down to the dry forest area
at the base of the Garhwal and Kumaon ranges (Bhabar).
According to Dhirendra Datt Dangwal's research, the Bhotiyas were both pastoralists
and traders, but the Gujjars were strictly pastoralists.
The Pastoral Nomads of the Plateaus and the Deserts
Why would there be nomads on the plateaus, is the first question that comes to mind.
In the plateaus and deserts, there is no snowfall. Because livestock like sheep and
goats cannot withstand high rains, pastoralists were forced to relocate during the
rainy season. However, in the desert, they had to migrate to get food.
● During the monsoon, the Dhangars used to live in Maharashtra's central
plateau. Because of the limited rainfall, they could only sow bajra. They'd
finish harvesting their bajra in October and travel to Konkan. The Dhangars
and the peasants had a mutual give-and-take relationship here. The fields
needed to be fertilised after the Kharif crops were harvested. The Dhangars'
livestock did this with their dung. They also ate the field's stubbles. The
Konkans would send rice to the Dhangars.
● As soon as the motion was given, the Dhangars would leave Konkan. In
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the situation was similar. With the arrival of
the monsoon, the Gollas, Kurumas, and Kurubas were forced to relocate.
● The Banjaras of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and
Maharashtra had to migrate about a lot in order to find good pasture pastures
for their cattle.
Class – 9 History
Chapter 5 – Pastoralists in the Modern World
Nomads are people who do not stay in one place for an extended period. Pastoralists,
on the other hand, are those who own a lot of sheep, goats, or buffaloes. These
animals feed on the area that is appropriate for them. This chapter is dedicated to
these tribes who have been forgotten. We tend to believe that nomadic pastoralists
were ancient people. These tribes, however, were highly active in the recent past and
continue to live in the twenty-first century.
Pastoral Nomads in the Mountains
1. The Gujjar Bakarwal Tribe
● According to Anil Kumar and Naresh Kumar's research, the Gujjar Bakarwal
tribe arrived in Jammu and Kashmir between 1127 and 1154 AD and spent
the summer in the highlands of the state. The J&K mountains provided
excellent grasses for their animals during the summer.
● As winter approached, the Gujjar Bakarwal were forced to relocate to the
Shiwalik range's base.
● Their cattle were given pasture in the dry forests of the little Shiwalik
highlands until April when they returned to the northern mountainous region
of Jammu and Kashmir.
● They had set up several dwellings in the centere of these two areas to make
their journey easier. Kafila was the name given to these households.
2. The Gaddis
In Himachal Pradesh's mountainous regions, the Gaddi tribe was present. The
majority of them were shepherds. They used to come down to the Shiwalik range's
, lower elevations in the winter. They'd then get taller as April approached. They
planned to spend their time in two villages: Lahaul and Spiti. They ascended higher
up the slopes as the snow disappeared. They would then be taken down by
September. They would halt at the two villages in the middle of their voyage to
harvest the crops and seed the winter crops.
3. The Bhotiyas and Gujjars of Himachal Pradesh
The Bhotiyas and Gujjars, like other pastoralists, used to reside in the meadows of
Himachal Pradesh's hilly regions (Buggyal) and climbed down to the dry forest area
at the base of the Garhwal and Kumaon ranges (Bhabar).
According to Dhirendra Datt Dangwal's research, the Bhotiyas were both pastoralists
and traders, but the Gujjars were strictly pastoralists.
The Pastoral Nomads of the Plateaus and the Deserts
Why would there be nomads on the plateaus, is the first question that comes to mind.
In the plateaus and deserts, there is no snowfall. Because livestock like sheep and
goats cannot withstand high rains, pastoralists were forced to relocate during the
rainy season. However, in the desert, they had to migrate to get food.
● During the monsoon, the Dhangars used to live in Maharashtra's central
plateau. Because of the limited rainfall, they could only sow bajra. They'd
finish harvesting their bajra in October and travel to Konkan. The Dhangars
and the peasants had a mutual give-and-take relationship here. The fields
needed to be fertilised after the Kharif crops were harvested. The Dhangars'
livestock did this with their dung. They also ate the field's stubbles. The
Konkans would send rice to the Dhangars.
● As soon as the motion was given, the Dhangars would leave Konkan. In
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the situation was similar. With the arrival of
the monsoon, the Gollas, Kurumas, and Kurubas were forced to relocate.
● The Banjaras of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and
Maharashtra had to migrate about a lot in order to find good pasture pastures
for their cattle.
