Page 119 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

woven blankets. They lived near the woods, cultivated small patches of land, engaged
in a variety of small trades and took care of their herds.
l The pastoral nomads of these two southern states lived near the forests, cultivated small
patches of land, engaged themselves in different types of trades and took care of their herds.
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
6. What were the changes in the life of pastoralists, happened during the Colonial rule ?
Ans. Changes that took place in the life of pastoralists under the colonial rule were:
l Under colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed dramatically. Their grazing grounds
shrank.
l The revenue they had to pay was increased.
l Their movements were regulated.
l Their agricultural stock declined and their trades and crafts were badly affected.

7. What factors had to be kept in mind by the pastoralists in order to survive?
Ans. Factors had to be kept in mind by pastoralists in order to survivewere :
l They had to judge how long the cattle could stay in one area and know where they
could find water and pasture.
l They needed to calculate the timing of their movements, and ensure that they could
move through different territories.
l They also had to set up a relationship with farmers on the way, so that the herds could
graze in harvested fields and manure the soil.
l They also had to combine a range of different activities-cultivation, trade and herding-to
make their living.

8. How did the Forest Acts change the life of pastoralists ?
Ans. The Forest Acts change the life of pastoralists in the following ways :
(a) Forest Acts were enacted to protect and preserve forests for timber which was of
commercial importance.
(b) They were now prevented from entering many forests that had earlier provided valuable
fodder for their cattle. Even in the areas they were allowed entry, their movement were
restricted.
(c) They were issued permits which monitored their entry and exit from forests. They could
not stay in the forests as much as they liked because the permit specified the periods
in which they could be legally within a forest. If they overstayed they were suppose
topay fine.

9. What was the impact of frequent drought on the pasture lands of Maasai community?
Ans. Drought affects the life of pastoralists everywhere. When rain fails, and pastures are dry,
cattle are likely to starve unless they can be moved to areas where fodder is available.
But from the colonial period, the Maasai were bound to a fixed area, and prohibited from
moving in search of pastures. They were cut off from the best grazing lands and forced to
live within a semi-arid tract which was prone to frequent droughts.

10. Write a short note on Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ans. The Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir are great herders of goat and sheep. Many
of them migrated to this region in the nineteenth century in search of pastures for their
animals. Gradually, over the decades, they established themselves in the area, and moved
annually between their summer and winter grazing grounds.
In winter, when the high mountains were covered with snow, they lived with their herds
in the low hills of the Shiwalik range. The dry scrub forests here provided pasture for
their herds. By the end of April, they began their northern march for their summer grazing
grounds.

H-110 History Class IX