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NCERT Class 9 Social Science Chapter 5 Pastoralists In The Modern World
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Pastoralists In The Modern World
Chapter: 5
INDIA AND THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – I (HISTORY)
NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Q. 1. Explain why nomadic tribes needed to move from one place to another. What are the advantages to the environ-ment of this continuous movement?
Ans. Nomadic tribes need to move from one place to another for the following reasons:
(a) Nomadic tribes need to move from one place to another to save their animals from adverse climatic conditions.
(b) They also move regularly in search of new meadows or pastures.
(c) Some of the pastoral nomads move to combine a range of different activities-cultivation, trade and herding to make their living.
The following are the advantages to the environment of this continuous movement:
(i) The variety of grasses that sprout provide rich nutritious forage for the animal herd.
(ii) The Banjaras play a very important role as moving traders. In search of good pasture land for their cattle, they move over long distances, sell plough, cattle and other goods to villagers in exchange for grain and fodder.
(iii) The nomadic tribes have to set up relationship with farmers on their way, so that the herd can graze in harvested fields and thus manure the soil.
(iv) Environmentalists and economists have increasingly come to recognise that pastoral nomadism is a form of life that is perfectly suited to many hilly and dry regions of the world.
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.
(i) Waste Land Rules.
Ans. Waste Land Rules:
(a) (i) To colonial officials, all uncultivated land appeared to be unproductive. It produced neither revenue nor agricultural produce. It was seen as a waste land that needed to be brought under cultivation.
(ii) From the mid-nineteenth century, Waste Land Rules were enacted in various parts of the country. By these rules uncultivated lands were taken over and given to selected individuals.
(iii) These individuals were granted various concessions and encouraged to settle their lives. Some of them were made headmen of villages in the newly cleared areas. In most areas the land taken over were actually grazing tracts used regularly by pastoralists.
(b) So, expansion of cultivation inevitably meant the decline of pastures and a problem for pastoralists.
(ii) Forest Acts.
Ans. Forest Act:
(a) 1. Through the Forest Act, the forests which produced commercially valuable timber like deodar or sal were declared ‘Reserved.
2. No pastoralist was allowed access to these forests.
(b) The Forest Acts changed the lives of pastoralists:
(i) They were prevented from entering forests that had earlier provided forage for their cattle.
(ii) Even in the areas they were allowed entry, their movements were regulated.
(iii) They needed a permit for entry.
(iv) The timing of their entry and departure was specified and the number of days they could spend in the forest was limited.
(iii) Criminal Tribes Act.
Ans. Criminal Tribes Act:
1. The Act came into existence because, the British officials were suspicious of nomadic people.
2. They distrusted mobile craftsmen and traders who hawked their goods in villages and pastoralists and changed their place of residence every season, moved in search of good pastures for their herds.
The Criminal Tribes Act changed the lives of the pastoralists in the following ways:
(i) They were stated to be criminal by nature and birth.
(ii) When this Act came into force, they were expected to live only in notified village settlements.
(iii) They were not allowed the movement without a permit.
3. The village police kept a continuous watch on them.
(iv) Grazing Tax.
Ans. Grazing Tax:
(a) To expand its revenue income the colonial government looked for every possible source of taxation. Therefore, tax was imposed on land, on canal water, on salt, on trade goods and even on animals.
(b) 1. Pastoralists had to pay tax on every animal they grazed on the pastures. In most pastoral tracts of India, grazing tax was introduced in the mid-nineteenth century. The tax per head of cattle went up quickly and The system of collection was made increasingly efficient.
2. In the decades between the 1850s and 1880s, the right to collect the tax was auctioned out to contractors. These contractors tried to extract as high a tax as they could to recover the money they had paid to the stage and carn as much profit as they could within the year.
3. By the 1880s the government began collecting taxes directly from the pastoralists. Each of them was given a pass. To enter a grazing tract, a cattle herder had to show the pass and pay the tax. The number of cattle heads he had and the amount of the tax he paid was entered on the pass.
Q. 3. Give reasons to explain why the Maasai Community lost their grazing lands.
Ans. Its reasons are as under:
(i) European imperial powers scramble for territorial in Africa, slicing up the region into different colonies.
(ii) Maasai Land was cut into half with an international boundary between British Kenya and German Tanganyika. The best grazing lands were gradually taken over the white settlement and the Maasais were pushed into a small area in South Kenya and North Tanzania. Thus, they lost about 60% of their pre-colonial lands.
(iii) The colonial government in East Africa encourage the local peasants to expand their cultivation. As a result, there were the loss of grazing lands to the Maasai community.
Q. 4. There are many similarities in the way in which the modern world forced changed 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.
Ans. The changes which were similar for Indian pastoralists and the Maasai herders are:
(i) Both the Indian pastoralists and Maasai herders were deprived of their grazing lands, which meant the decline of pastures and a problem for both.
(ii) Both the Indian pastoralists and the Maasai herders suffered when forests were declared reserved and they were not allowed access to these forests.
SOME OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. The warriors consisted of:
(a) elder people.
(b) younger people.
(c) children.
(d) healthy people.
Ans. (b) younger people.
Q. 2. Why were some forests classified as “protected”?
(a) In these the customary grazing rights of pastorals were granted but their movements were severely restricted.
(b) The colonial officials believed that grazing destroyed the saplings and young shoots of trees that germinated on the forest floor.
(c) Both (a) and (b).
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (c) Both (a) and (b).
Q. 3. According to the ‘Wasteland Rules’.
(a) uncultivated lands were taken over and given to select individuals.
(b) these individuals were granted various concessions and encouraged to settle these lands.
(c) some of them were made headmen of villages in the newly cleared areas.
(d) all the above.
Ans. (d) all the above.
Q. 4. Which of the following statements best explains pastoralist nomads?
(a) The villagers who move from one place to another.
(b) The people who do not have a permanent place to live in.
(c) The herdsmen who move from one place to another looking for pasture for their herd.
(d) The people who visit many places for enjoyment.
Ans. (c) The herdsmen who move from one place to another looking for pasture for their herd.
Q. 5. What was the result of overgrazing pastures due to restrictions on pastoral movements?
(a) The quality of pastures declined.
(b) This created deterioration of animal stock.
(c) Underfed cattle died in large numbers during scarcity and famine.
(d) All the above.
Ans. (d) All the above.
Q. 6. Which of these statements is true?
(a) Large areas of grazing land were turned into game reserves.
(b) Pastoralists were not allowed to enter these reserves.
(c) Serengeti National Park was created over 14,760 km of Manani grazing land.
(d) All the above.
Ans. (a) Large areas of grazing land were turned into game reserves.
Q. 7. How was the authority of both elders and warriors adversely affected by the British efforts to administer the affairs of the Maasai?
(a) The British appointed chiefs of different sub-groups of Mansal.
(b) These chiefs were made responsible for the affairs of the tribe.
(c) The British imposed various restrictions on raiding and warfare.
(d) All the above.
Ans. (d) All the above.
Q.8. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): In winter, when the high mountains are covered with snow, the Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir live with their herds in the low hills of the Siwalik range.
Reason (R): This provided them with relief from the cold weather of the high mountains.
Options:
(a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are wrong.
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) in the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
Q. 9. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): The pastoralists had to adjust to seasonal changes and make effective use of available agricultural lands in different places.
Reason (R): This continuous movement also allows the pastures to recover and prevent their overuse
Options:
(a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(c ) Both (A) and (R) are wrong.
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Q. 10. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): The colonial state wanted to transform all grazing lands into cultivated farms.
Reason (R): The Land revenue was one of the main sources of its finance.
Options:
(a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (c) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Q. 11. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): The colonial government wanted the rural people to live in villages, in fixed places with fixed rights on particular fields.
Reason (R): To colonial officials all uncultivated land appeared to be unproductive.
Options:
(a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the
correct explanation of (A).
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (d) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Q. 12. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): Through Forest Acts some forests which produced commercially valuable timber like deodar or sal were declared ‘Protected’.
Reason (R): In these forests, the pastoralists were allowed to cultivate land.
Options:
(a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are wrong.
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (c) Both (A) and (R) are wrong.
Q. 13. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): In many regions, Maasai, other pastoral groups were prohibited from participating in any form of trade.
Reason (R): White settlers and European colonists saw pastoralists as dangerous and savage-people with whom all contact had to be minimized.
Options:
(a) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(b) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are wrong.
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Fill in the Blanks:
(i) The _________ play a very important role as moving traders.
Ans. Banjaras.
(ii) Bugyals are the natural _________.
Ans. pastures.
(iii) The Gujjar-Bakarwals live in the state of __________.
Ans. Jammu and Kashmir.
(iv) ________ live in the deserts of Rajasthan.
Ans. Raikas.
(v) The Forest Act meant severe _________ for villagers across the country.
Ans. hardship.
True and False:
(i) Nomadic tribes move regularly in search of new meadows or pastures.
Ans. True.
(ii) Serengeti park is located in Shillong.
Ans. False.
(iii) Rabi crops are generally harvested after February.
Ans. False.
(iv) Bhabar is a dry forest area.
Ans. True.
(v) The colonial government enacted the Criminal Tribal Act in the year 1871.
Ans. True.
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. What was the status of the Massai pastoralists in pre-colonial times?
Ans. They had dominated their agricultural neighbours both economically and politically.
Q. 2. Who were called “The Elders’ in Maasai society?
Ans. The Elders formed the ruling group and met in periodic councils to decide on the affairs of the community and settle disputes.
Q. 3. Name the regions of the cyclic movement of Kurumas and Kurubas.
Ans. The Kurumas and Kurubas lived in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. In the dry season they moved near the coast and left when the rains came.
Q. 4. Why were the British officials suspicious of the nomadic people? Give one reason.
Ans. The British officials were suspicious of the nomadic people because they distrusted mobile craftsmen and traders who sold their goods in villages, and pastoralists who changed their places or residence every season. They were considered as criminals.
Q. 5. Why were the Dhangars welcomed by the Konkani peasants?
Ans. After the kharif crops were harvested, the field had to be fertilized for the rabi crops. Dhangar flocks manured the fields and fed on the stubble. Dhangars were also given supplies of rice which they supplied to the plateau where grain was scarce.
Q. 6. Why did the Dhangars leave the Konkan and coastal areas before the onset of monsoon?
Ans. The Dhangars left the Konkan and the coastal areas before the onset of monsoon because the sheep could not tolerate the wet monsoon conditions.
Q. 7. What is a Gujjar Mandap?
Ans. A Gujjar Mandap is a place where the Gujjar cattle herders live. It is made of ringal and grass. A mandap was also a workplace, where the Gujjar made ghee for the purpose of sale.
Q. 8. What defined the seasonal rhythms of the movement of the pastoralists in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh?
Ans. It was the alternation of the monsoon and dry season which defined the seasonal rhythms of the movement of pastoralists in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. In dry season they moved to the coastal areas and left when the rains came.
Q. 9. What was the extent of area of Massailand before colonial times?
Ans. Before colonial period, Massiland extended over a vast area from north Kenya to the steppes of north Tanzania.
Q. 10. What happened to Massailand in 1885?
Ans. In 1885, the colonial powers scrambled for territorial possessions. Massailand was cut into half with an international boundary between British Kenya and German Tanganyika. The Massal lost 60 per cent of their pre-colonial land.
Q. 11. According to environmentalists and economists why are nomadic pastoralists the important communities?
Ans. Nomadic pastoralists are important communities because they play a major role in the conservation of forests. People get useful products like milk, ghee, wool from herders.
Q. 12. How is movement of Dhangar different than that of Gujjars?
Ans. Dhangar’s movement is guided by the annual cycle of monsoon whereas Gujjar’s movement depends upon change of season i.e., winter and summer.
Q. 18. Define kafila.
Ans. The families of Gujjar and Bakarwals used to come together to move back to their summer grounds. These groups were called kafila.
Q 14. What kinds of activities do the tribes of Africa undertake to earn their livelihood?
Ans. To earn their livelihood, the tribes of Africa undertake various activities. They raise cattle, camels, goats, sheep and donkeys and sell their milk, meat, animal skin and wool. Some are engaged in trade and transport, and some combine pastoral activity with that of agriculture to earn their livelihoods.
Q. 15. What social changes took place in the Maasai society due to colonial rule?
Ans. Due to the intervention of the colonial powers, the Maasai society witnessed number of changes in social organizations. The division based on age, between elders and warriors grew weaker and the differences based on rich and poor pastoralists emerged.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. How were the lives of the pastoralists affected by the control established by the colonial government over grazing land?
Ans. Under colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed completely.
(i) They lost traditional rights in forests and pasture lands. Their grazing grounds shrank and their movements were restricted.
(ii) They had to pay many kinds of taxes. Their cattle declined, their trade and crafts were adversely affected.
(iii) They were issued permits which monitored their entry into and exit from formate.
(vi) Many of them gave up their earlier livelihood and took to settled cultivation.
Q. 2. In which two social categories was the Mansal society divided in the precolonial time? In what way did their roles change because of the colonial policies?
Ans. The Maasai society was divided into two sections-Elders and Warriors the elders formed the ruling group and met in periodic councils to decide on the affairs of the community and settle disputes. The warriors consisted of younger people, mainly responsible for the protection of the tribe. They defended the community and organized raids.
But the British introduced a series of measures that had important implications. They appointed chiefs of different sob-groups of Massai, who were made responsible for the affairs of the tribe. Besides, various restrictions were imposed on raiding and warfare. So, the traditional authority of both elders and warriors was adversely affected.
Q. 3. Explain any three means of livelihood of the pastoral nomads.
Ans. The means of livelihood of the pastoral nomads are given below:
(i) They herded cattle.
(ii) They reared sheep and goats and sold woven blankets.
(iii) They lived near the woods, cultivated the small patches of land, engaged is a variety of petty trades. Besides, they also took care of their herds.
Q. 4. What are some of the problems that pastoralists face in the modern world? How they adapted to new times?
Ans. (i) The grazing grounds of pastoralists shrank, their movements were regulated and the revenue they had to pay increased.
(ii) Their agricultural stock declined and their trades and crafts were badly affected.
(iii) The pastoralists changed the path of their annual movements, reduced their cattle numbers and pressed for right to enter new areas.
(iv) They also exerted political pressure on their respective government for relief and subsidy.
Q. 5. Who are the Gujjar-Bakarwals and the Gaddis? Mention few similarities between them.
Ans. They are pastoralists and mountain nomads.
(i) The Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir-they are pastoral nomads who made in groups called ‘Kafila’. Their movements are governed by the cold and snow.
(ii) In winters, when the high mountains are covered with snow, these Gujjars move down to the low hills of Shivaliks and on onset of summer they move back to the mountains.
(iii) The Gaddis shepherds of Himachal Pradesh have a similar cycle of movement as they also spend the winters on the low Shivalik hills and summers in Lahaul and Spiti.
Q. 6. Why did British introduce waste-land rules? How did this affect the life of pastoralists?
Ans. (i) Under Colonial rule, all uncultivated land appeared to be unproductive’s. It was seen as waste land that required to be brought under cultivation.
(ii) The Colonial government enacted ‘Waste Land Rules’ in different parts of the Country during the mid-nineteenth century. Under these Rules uncultivated lands were taken over and given to select individuals.
(iii) In most regions, the lands taken over were really grazing tracts. These tracts were used regularly by pastoralists. Therefore, expansion of cultivation inevitably meant the reduction of pastures and a problem for pastoralists.
Q. 7. The pastoral groups had to consider different factors to sustain their life. Mention any three.
Ans. (i) Pastoral groups had to judge how long the herds could stay in one area, and know where they could find water and pasture.
(ii) They needed to calculate the timing of their movements and ensure that they could move through different territories.
(iii) They had to set-up a relationship with farmers on the way, so that the herds could graze in harvested fields and manure the soil.
Q. 8. Explain any three factors that the pastoral groups have to consider to sustain their life.
Ans. (i) The life of these pastoral groups was sustained by a careful consideration of a host of factors. They had to judge how long the herds could stay in one area, and know where they could find water and pasture.
(ii) They needed to calculate the timing of their movements, and ensure that they could move through different territories.
(iii) They had to set up a relationship with farmers on the way, so that the herds could graze in harvested fields and manure the soil.
(iv) They combined a range of different activities cultivation, trade and herding to make their living.
Q. 9. What restrictions were imposed on Maasais by the colonial government?
Ans. (i) They were forced to live within confines of special reserves.
(ii) They were not allowed to move out with their stock without special permits.
(iii) It was difficult to get permits without trouble and harassment. People found guilty of disobeying the rules were severely punished.
Q. 10. Explain in three points the measures taken by British to administer the affairs of Maasai.
Ans. (i) The British appointed chiefs of different sub-groups of Maasai.
(ii) The chiefs were made responsible for the affairs of the tribe.
(iii) The British imposed various restrictions on raiding and warfare. Thus, the traditional authority of both elders and warriors was adversely affected.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Evaluate the effects of forests acts on the community living of forest dwellers.
Ans. The Forest Act meant severe hardship for villagers across the country. They effected the live forests dwellers in following ways:
(i) The forest laws deprived people of their customary rights.
(ii) After the Act, all their everyday practices cutting wood for their houses, grazing their cattle, collecting fruits and roots, hunting and fishing became illegal.
(iii) People were now forced to steal wood from the forests, and if they were caught, they were at the mercy of the forest guards who would take bribes from them.
(iv) Women who collected fuelwood were especially worried. Now, they could not collect firewood from the forests.
Q. 2. Describe the main sources of the livelihood of the pastoral nomads.
Ans. Main source of livelihood of the pastoral nomads:
(i) In forest areas, people use forest product roots, leaves, fruits, and tubers for many things.
(ii) Fruits and tubers are nutritious to eat, especially during the monsoons before the harvest has come in.
(iii) Herbs are used for medicine, wood for agricultural implements like yokes and ploughs, bamboo makes excellent fences and is also used to make baskets and umbrellas.
(iv) A dried scooped-out gourd can be used as a portable water bottle. Almost everything is available in the forest leaves can be stitched together to make disposable plates and cups.
(v) The thorny bark of the semur (silk-cotton) tree is used to grate vegetables. Oil for cooking and to light lamps can be pressed from the fruit of the mahua tree.
Q. 3. Give reasons why the grazing lands shrank of the Maasai herders in Africa.
Ans. The Maasai cattle herders live primarily in East Africa. Rules, laws and regulations have changed their way of life. There are many problems which they have faced, the most prominent being continuous loss of their grazing grounds. This has many reasons:
(i) Scramble for territorial possessions in Africa.
(ii) Dividing the region into different colonies.
(iii) Best grazing grounds being taken over by the white settlements.
(iv) Grazing grounds being converted to cultivated land and national parks and game reserves.
Q. 4. Discuss the factors that sustain life of the pastoral communities.
Ans. Following are some important factors that sustain the life of pastoral communities:
(i) They have to judge how long the herds could stay in one area and know where they could find water and pasture.
(ii) They have to calculate the timing of their movements and ensure that they could move through different territories.
(iii) They have to set-up a relationship with farmers on the way so that the herds could graze in the harvested fields and manure the soil.
(iv) They have to combine a range of different activities-cultivation, trade and herding to make their living.
Q. 5. Why did Raikas combine cultivation with pastoralism? Give any three reasons.
Ans. The Raikas in Rajasthan combine cultivation with pastoralism because the rainfall in the region is meager and uncertain. On cultivated land harvest fluctuated every year. Over vast stretches no crop can be grown. Therefore the Raikas combine cultivation with pastoralism. During the monsoons, the Raikas of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner stayed in their home villages, where pasture was available. By October, when these grazing grounds were dry and exhausted, they moved out in search of other pasture and water, and returned again during the next monsoon.
HOTS QUESTION
Q.1. Where do the Raikas live? Mention main features of their economy and life.
Ans. The Raikas live in the deserts of Rajasthan.
Main features of Raikas economy and life:
(i) As the rainfall in Rajasthan is meager and uncertain, the Raikas feel cultivation of their land tracts very difficult. Their harvests fluctuate every year. Over vast stretches no crops can be grown. Therefore, the Raikas have combined cultivation with pastoralism.
(ii) During the monsoons, the Raikas of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner stay in their home villages where pasture is available.
(iii) By October, when grazing grounds are dry and exhausted the Raikas move out in search of other green fields and water, and return again during next rainy season.
(iv) One group of Raikas-known as the Maru (desert) Raikas-herd camels and their another group rear goats and sheep.
(v) Therefore, we can say that the life of the Raikas as pastoral group is sustained by a Carefully consideration of a host of factors. They have to judge how long the herds can stay in one area of Rajasthan and know where they can find water and pasture in Rajasthan and nearby provinces.
Q. 2. Who are the pastoral nomads? Describe any four features of them.
Ans. Pastoralists Nomads are people who do not live in one place but move from the one area to another to earn their living.
Features: (i) In many parts of India we can see norn? dic pastoralists on the move with their herds of goats and sheep, or camels and cattle.
(ii) They followed cyclic movement.
(iii) This pattern of cyclical movement between summer and winter pastures was typical of many pastoral communities of the Himalayas, including the Bhotiyas, Sherpas and Kinnauris.
(iv) All of them had to adjust to seasonal changes and make effective use of available pastures in different places.
(v) When the pasture was exhausted or unusable in one place they moved their herds and flock to new areas. This continuous movement also allowed the pastures to recover; it prevented their overuse.
PASSAGE BASED QUESTIONS
1. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
We see that pastoral communities in different parts of the world are affected in a variety of different ways by changes in the modern world. New laws and new borders affect the patterns of their movement. With increasing restrictions on their mobility, pastoralists find it difficult to move in search of pastures. As pasture lands disappear grazing becomes a problem, while pastures that remain deteriorate through continuous over grazing. Times of drought become times of crises, when cattle die in large numbers. Yet, pastoralists do adapt to new times.
(i) In pre-colonial times Maasai society was divided into two social categories. These were:
(a) chiefs and chieftains.
(b) rich and poor.
(c) farmers and gatherers.
(d) elders and warriors.
Ans. (d) elders and warriors.
(ii) The elders were assigned the task of:
(a) managing the family affairs.
(b) cultivation of land.
(c) organizing periodic councils to decide on the affairs of the community and settle disputes.
(d) protecting the tribe from external dangers.
Ans. (c) organizing periodic councils to decide on the affairs of the community and settle disputes.
(iii) The warriors had the responsibility of:
(a) gathering the resources.
(b) protecting the tribe.
(c) acquiring new lands for settlement.
(d) searching new pasture land for their cattle.
Ans. (b) protecting the tribe.
(iv) How did the pastoralists adapt to the new time?
(a) They took to agriculture.
(b) They joined hands with the colonial government.
(c) They began trading of forest produces.
(d) They had to go looking for work in the towns.
Ans. (d) They had to go looking for work in the towns.
2. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
In the deserts of Rajasthan lived the Raikas. The rainfall in the region was meagre and uncertain. On cultivated land, harvesta fluctuated every year. Over vast stretches no crop could be grown. So 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. By October, when these grazing grounds were dry and exhausted, they moved out in search of other pasture and water, and returned again during the next monsoon.
(i) Name the other group of Raikas and their occupation:
(a) Banjaras who herd goats.
(b) Gujar Bakarwals who herd goats.
(c) Maru Raikas who herd camels.
(d) Gaddi shepherds who herd sheep.
Ans. (c) Maru Raikas who herd camels.
(ii) The pastoralists had to set up a relationship with farmers on the way, so that:
(a) they could get easy passage on their route.
(b) they could get food for themselves.
(c) they could find a place to settle.
(d) the herds could graze in harvested fields and manure the soil.
Ans. (d) the herds could graze in harvested fields and manure the soil.
(iii) The pastoral communities combined a range of different activities to make their living. These were:
(a) clearing forests and herding.
(b) cultivation, trade, and herding.
(c) trade and road construction.
(d) herding and road construction.
Ans. (b) cultivation, trade, and herding.
(iv) Under colonial rule, the life of these pastoralists changed dramatically. How?
(a) They began supporting the colonial government.
(b) They started agriculture.
(c) Their grazing grounds shrank, their movements were regulated, and the revenue they had to pay increased.
(d) They took to trade activities.
Ans. (c) Their grazing grounds shrank, their movements were regulated, and the revenue they had to pay increased.
3. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
Not all pastoralists operated in the mountains. They were also to be found in the plateaus, plains and deserts of India. Dhangars were an important pastoral community of Maharashtra. 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. The Dhanga shepherds stayed in the central plateau of Maharashtra during the monsoon.
(i) How is the area in the central plateau of Maharashtra like?
(a) It is a fertile area with enough pastures.
(b) It is a desert area with thorny scrubs.
(c) It is a semi-arid region with low rainfall and poor soil.
(d) It is an area of high hills.
Ans. (c) It is a semi-arid region with low rainfall and poor soil.
(ii) The vegetation found here is:
(a) green pastures.
(b) thorny scrubs.
(c) tall grass.
(d) semi-arid grass.
Ans. (b) thorny scrubs.
(iii) Where does the Dangar flock head after they harvest the bajra crop?
(a) They move towards high mountains in Jammu and Kashmir.
(b) They move towards low hills of the Siwalik range.
(c) They move towards west and reach Konkan.
(d) They move towards the central plateau of Maharashtra.
Ans. (c) They move towards west and reach Konkan.
(iv) What interrelation is seen in the Konkan among the Danger flock and the peasants?
(a) Konkan peasants provide their pastures to Dangars and get bajra in return.
(b) Konkan peasants give rice to Dangar and in return Dangar flocks manure their fields.
(c) Konkan peasants provide water to Dangars and get manure in return.
(d) Konkan peasants provide food to Dangars and get agricultural tools in return.
Ans. (b) Konkan peasants give rice to Dangar and in return Dangar flocks manure their fields.
