Question

How did changes imposed by colonial people affect the lives of pastoralists and how did the pastoralists cope up with these changes?

Answer 1

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Pastoralists coped with the changes in a variety of ways:

(i) Some reduced the number of cattle in their herds.

(ii) Others changed the direction of their movement and discovered new pastures. For example, Raikas who instead of moving into Sindh have in recent years been migrating to Haryana where sheep graze on agricultural fields after harvest. The animals provide manure that fields need.

(iii) Richer pastoralists began buying land and settled in one place giving up their nomadic life.

(iv) Some took to extensive trading and money lending.

(v) The poor amongst them became labourers or started working in fields or in small towns.