NCERT Solutions Class 9 (social Science) History Chapter – 5 ‘Pastoralists in the Modern World’ Quesiton Answer solutions
Q. 1. Explain why nomadic tribes need to move from one place to another. What are the advantages to the environment of this continuous movement?
Answer:-
Why Do Nomadic Tribes Move?
Nomadic tribes move from one place to another primarily for survival and sustenance. Their movement is driven by seasonal changes, availability of resources, and traditional practices.
1️⃣ Search for Pastures & Water
🌾 Pastoral nomads depend on livestock, requiring fresh grazing lands.
🚰 Water sources dry up seasonally, forcing them to relocate.
2️⃣ Climate & Seasonal Changes
❄️ Winter grazing grounds are different from summer pastures.
🌦️ Monsoon affects vegetation, influencing migration patterns.
3️⃣ Avoid Overgrazing & Resource Depletion
🚜 Continuous movement prevents overuse of land and preserves soil fertility.
🌱 Allows grasslands to regenerate, maintaining ecological balance.
Environmental Advantages of Nomadic Movement
✅ Prevents land degradation – Overgrazing is avoided, ensuring sustainable use of pastures.
✅ Supports biodiversity – Different regions get time to recover, promoting plant and animal diversity.
✅ Natural fertilization – Animal manure enriches soil, improving fertility.
Q. 2. Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In each case, explain how the law changed the lives of pastoralists:
(a) Waste Land rules
(b) Forest Acts
(c) Criminal Tribes Act
(d) Grazing Tax
Answer:-
Colonial Laws and Their Impact on Pastoralists
During the colonial period, the British introduced several laws to regulate land use and maximize revenue. These laws severely affected pastoral communities, restricting their movement and traditional practices.
1️⃣ Waste Land Rules
📜 Purpose: The British considered uncultivated land as “waste”, believing it should be converted into farmland.
🚧 Impact: Grazing lands were taken over for agriculture, reducing pastures for pastoralists. Many were forced to abandon their traditional livelihoods.
2️⃣ Forest Acts
🌲 Purpose: Forests were classified as “Reserved” and “Protected”, restricting access to valuable timber areas.
🚫 Impact: Pastoralists lost access to forests that had provided grazing land and fodder. Entry was regulated through permits, limiting their movement.
3️⃣ Criminal Tribes Act (1871)
🚨 Purpose: The British labeled certain nomadic communities as “criminal”, believing they were prone to theft and rebellion.
🔍 Impact: Pastoralists were forced to settle in designated areas and monitored by police. Their freedom of movement was restricted, disrupting their way of life.
4️⃣ Grazing Tax
💰 Purpose: The British sought to increase revenue by taxing pastoralists for grazing their animals on public land.
⚠️ Impact: Pastoralists had to pay tax for each animal, making livestock rearing expensive. Many reduced their herd sizes, affecting their income.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Colonial laws restricted pastoral movement, reducing grazing lands.
✅ Forest Acts and Waste Land Rules prioritized agriculture and timber over traditional livelihoods.
✅ The Criminal Tribes Act forced nomadic groups into settlements, limiting their freedom.
✅ Grazing taxes made livestock rearing costly, pushing pastoralists into poverty.
Q. 3. Give reasons to explain why the Maasai community lost their grazing lands.
Answer:-
Reasons for the Loss of Maasai Grazing Lands
The Maasai community, traditionally pastoralists, lost their grazing lands due to colonial policies, land division, and agricultural expansion. These changes severely impacted their way of life.
1️⃣ Colonial Land Division
📜 In 1885, European powers divided Maasailand between British Kenya and German Tanganyika.
🚧 Best grazing lands were taken for white settlements, pushing Maasai into arid regions.
📉 Maasai lost 60% of their pre-colonial lands, reducing their access to pastures.
2️⃣ Expansion of Cultivation
🌾 British colonial policies encouraged local peasants to expand agriculture.
🚜 Pasturelands were converted into farmland, reducing grazing areas.
3️⃣ Creation of Game Reserves
🐅 Large areas were turned into wildlife reserves, such as Maasai Mara and Serengeti Park.
🚫 Pastoralists were banned from entering these reserves, preventing grazing and hunting.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Colonial land division reduced Maasai grazing lands.
✅ Agricultural expansion replaced pastures with farmland.
✅ Game reserves restricted Maasai access to traditional grazing areas.
Q. 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.
Answer:-
Similar Changes Faced by Indian Pastoralists & Maasai Herders
The modern world brought significant changes to pastoral communities in both India and East Africa, particularly affecting their livelihoods and mobility. Two major similarities in their experiences include:
1️⃣ Loss of Grazing Lands Due to Colonial Policies
🚧 British in India & Europeans in East Africa took over vast grazing lands for agriculture, plantations, and settlements.
🌾 Indian pastoralists lost pastures due to Waste Land Rules, while Maasai herders were pushed into arid regions after land division.
📜 Forest Acts & Game Reserves further restricted access to traditional grazing areas in both regions.
2️⃣ Restrictions on Movement & Forced Settlements
🚫 Nomadic movement was discouraged, forcing pastoralists to settle in fixed locations.
🔍 Criminal Tribes Act (India) and colonial land policies (East Africa) restricted free movement.
⚠️ Pastoralists had to pay taxes for grazing, making livestock rearing expensive.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Colonial land policies reduced grazing lands, forcing pastoralists into hardship.
✅ Movement restrictions disrupted traditional pastoral lifestyles.
✅ Both Indian and Maasai pastoralists faced economic struggles due to taxation and land loss.