Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Who are nomads?
- a) People who live in one place permanently
- b) People who move from one place to another for livelihood
- c) People who live in cities
- d) People who work in industries
- Answer: b) People who move from one place to another for livelihood
What is 'Bugyal'?
- a) A type of crop
- b) A high-altitude meadow
- c) A traditional house
- d) A desert
- Answer: b) A high-altitude meadow
Which community is known for herding goats and sheep in Jammu and Kashmir?
- a) Gaddis
- b) Bhotiyas
- c) Gujjar Bakarwals
- d) Raikas
- Answer: c) Gujjar Bakarwals
What is the primary occupation of the Dhangars of Maharashtra?
- a) Farming
- b) Shepherding
- c) Fishing
- d) Carpentry
- Answer: b) Shepherding
Which Act was enacted to classify forests in colonial India?
- a) Forest Conservation Act
- b) Forest Rights Act
- c) Forest Act
- d) Wildlife Protection Act
- Answer: c) Forest Act
Why did colonial rulers want to transform grazing lands into cultivated farms?
- a) To increase forest area
- b) To expand cultivation and revenue collection
- c) To build more factories
- d) To establish new cities
- Answer: b) To expand cultivation and revenue collection
Which of the following crops is typically sown during the monsoon season in Maharashtra?
- a) Wheat
- b) Rice
- c) Bajra
- d) Sugarcane
- Answer: c) Bajra
What type of movement did the Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh follow?
- a) Permanent settlement
- b) Seasonal movement
- c) Urban migration
- d) Nomadic raiding
- Answer: b) Seasonal movement
What did the Raikas of Rajasthan primarily herd?
- a) Cows
- b) Buffaloes
- c) Camels
- d) Pigs
- Answer: c) Camels
Where did the Kurumas and Kurubas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh take their herds during the dry season?
- a) Coastal tracts
- b) High mountains
- c) Deserts
- d) Urban areas
- Answer: a) Coastal tracts
What was one of the main objectives of the colonial government regarding forest lands?
- a) To conserve wildlife
- b) To increase forest cover
- c) To earn revenue from timber
- d) To create recreational areas
- Answer: c) To earn revenue from timber
The Forest Act divided forests into which three categories?
- a) Reserved, Protected, Village
- b) Reserved, National, Community
- c) Community, Private, Public
- d) National, Public, Private
- Answer: a) Reserved, Protected, Village
What was the main source of livelihood for the Banjaras?
- a) Fishing
- b) Agriculture
- c) Animal herding
- d) Trading goods
- Answer: d) Trading goods
Which region's pastoral community is known for their buffaloes?
- a) Rajasthan
- b) Maharashtra
- c) Gujarat
- d) Jammu and Kashmir
- Answer: c) Gujarat
What is 'transhumance'?
- a) Seasonal movement of people with their livestock
- b) Permanent settlement of pastoralists
- c) Cultivation of land by nomads
- d) Establishment of new industries in rural areas
- Answer: a) Seasonal movement of people with their livestock
Which of the following was a major consequence of the Criminal Tribes Act?
- a) Reduction in crime rates
- b) Rehabilitation of criminal tribes
- c) Forced settlement of nomadic tribes
- d) Increase in agricultural production
- Answer: c) Forced settlement of nomadic tribes
What was the impact of the new forest laws on pastoralists?
- a) Increased grazing lands
- b) Restricted access to forests
- c) Promotion of pastoral practices
- d) Encouragement of nomadic lifestyle
- Answer: b) Restricted access to forests
Who are 'Dhangars'?
- a) Farmers in Punjab
- b) Shepherds in Maharashtra
- c) Traders in Gujarat
- d) Fishermen in Kerala
- Answer: b) Shepherds in Maharashtra
The colonial government classified uncultivated lands as:
- a) Waste lands
- b) Reserved lands
- c) Protected lands
- d) Cultivable lands
- Answer: a) Waste lands
Which of the following was NOT a reason for the decline in pastoralism?
- a) Expansion of cultivation
- b) Introduction of new laws
- c) Increase in forest cover
- d) Growth of industries
- Answer: c) Increase in forest cover
What is the main occupation of the Gollas of Andhra Pradesh?
- a) Farming
- b) Weaving
- c) Cattle herding
- d) Fishing
- Answer: c) Cattle herding
Which tribe is known for their camel herding in Rajasthan?
- a) Raikas
- b) Gaddis
- c) Gujjars
- d) Dhangars
- Answer: a) Raikas
What was the primary aim of the colonial rulers when they introduced the Waste Land Rules?
- a) To expand forest area
- b) To generate revenue from agriculture
- c) To promote nomadic lifestyle
- d) To increase wildlife population
- Answer: b) To generate revenue from agriculture
Which group is known for practicing transhumance in the Himalayas?
- a) Gujjar Bakarwals
- b) Raikas
- c) Dhangars
- d) Banjaras
- Answer: a) Gujjar Bakarwals
The pastoralists of which region are known as Maldharis?
- a) Gujarat
- b) Rajasthan
- c) Punjab
- d) Maharashtra
- Answer: a) Gujarat
The colonial government declared forests as ‘Reserved’ to:
- a) Protect wildlife
- b) Allow unrestricted access to pastoralists
- c) Use them for timber production
- d) Promote tourism
- Answer: c) Use them for timber production
Which of the following was NOT a duty imposed on pastoralists by the colonial government?
- a) Grazing fees
- b) Cultivation taxes
- c) Animal husbandry permits
- d) Travel passes
- Answer: c) Animal husbandry permits
What was one of the primary changes that affected pastoralists in the 19th century?
- a) Introduction of new animal breeds
- b) Decline in agriculture
- c) Introduction of colonial forest laws
- d) Increase in nomadic population
- Answer: c) Introduction of colonial forest laws
Which community is associated with the high-altitude meadows in Garhwal and Kumaon?
- a) Gaddis
- b) Gujjar Bakarwals
- c) Raikas
- d) Dhangars
- Answer: b) Gujjar Bakarwals
What was the primary reason for the imposition of the Criminal Tribes Act?
- a) To promote agriculture
- b) To control and monitor nomadic tribes
- c) To increase industrial output
- d) To protect wildlife
- Answer: b) To control and monitor nomadic tribes
Which community traditionally migrates from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh during the dry season?
- a) Gollas
- b) Dhangars
- c) Gujjars
- d) Banjaras
- Answer: a) Gollas
What was one of the effects of the Forest Act on the pastoralists?
- a) Improved living conditions
- b) Increase in forest cover
- c) Limited access to grazing lands
- d) Reduction in cultivation area
- Answer: c) Limited access to grazing lands
What is 'Bugyal' in the context of the Himalayas?
- a) A high-altitude meadow
- b) A type of tree
- c) A traditional festival
- d) A variety of crop
- Answer: a) A high-altitude meadow
The Raikas are primarily associated with which region in India?
- a) Rajasthan
- b) Punjab
- c) Gujarat
- d) Maharashtra
- Answer: a) Rajasthan
Which Act required pastoralists to seek permission to graze their animals in forests?
- a) Forest Conservation Act
- b) Forest Rights Act
- c) Forest Act
- d) Wildlife Protection Act
- Answer: c) Forest Act
The Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh migrate to which area during the winter?
- a) Plains of Punjab
- b) High meadows
- c) Siwalik hills
- d) Central plateau
- Answer: c) Siwalik hills
The colonial government introduced the Waste Land Rules primarily to:
- a) Preserve forests
- b) Increase revenue from agriculture
- c) Promote pastoralism
- d) Conserve wildlife
- Answer: b) Increase revenue from agriculture
What was one of the main consequences of the Forest Act for the pastoralists?
- a) Increase in forest areas
- b) Better grazing facilities
- c) Restricted access to forests
- d) Development of new pastures
- Answer: c) Restricted access to forests
Which community is known for herding camels in Rajasthan?
- a) Raikas
- b) Gujjar Bakarwals
- c) Dhangars
- d) Gaddis
- Answer: a) Raikas
The pastoralists from Karnataka who migrate to Andhra Pradesh are called:
- a) Gollas
- b) Raikas
- c) Gujjars
- d) Dhangars
- Answer: a) Gollas
Which Act was introduced by the colonial government to regulate the movement of pastoralists?
- a) Criminal Tribes Act
- b) Forest Conservation Act
- c) Forest Rights Act
- d) Wildlife Protection Act
- Answer: a) Criminal Tribes Act
The Maldharis of Gujarat are primarily known for herding:
- a) Sheep
- b) Cattle
- c) Buffaloes
- d) Camels
- Answer: b) Cattle
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
The Gujjar Bakarwals migrate between their summer and ______ grazing grounds.
- Answer: winter
The dry forest area below the foothills of Garhwal and Kumaon is known as ______.
- Answer: bhabar
The central plateau of Maharashtra is a ______ region with low rainfall.
- Answer: semi-arid
During the colonial period, ______ lands were taken over and given to select individuals.
- Answer: uncultivated
The Gaddi shepherds spent their summer in ______ and Spiti.
- Answer: Lahul
The ______ Act was enacted to declare some forests as 'Reserved'.
- Answer: Forest
Dhangar shepherds of Maharashtra moved to the ______ during the monsoon.
- Answer: central plateau
The camel herders of Rajasthan are known as ______ Raikas.
- Answer: Maru
The high-altitude meadows in Garhwal and Kumaon are called ______.
- Answer: bugyals
During colonial rule, the revenue paid by pastoralists ______.
- Answer: increased
...
Subjective Questions
Describe the seasonal movement pattern of the Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Answer: The Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir practice a seasonal movement pattern, where they migrate between their summer and winter grazing grounds. In winter, they move to the low hills of the Siwalik range as the high mountains are covered with snow. By the end of April, they start their journey northward to the lush green meadows of Kashmir valley, where the snow has melted and the pastures provide rich forage. They stay there until the end of September, after which they begin their return journey to the low hills for the winter season.
Explain the impact of colonial rule on the lives of pastoralists in India.
- Answer: Colonial rule had a significant impact on the lives of pastoralists in India. Grazing grounds were reduced as the colonial government transformed these lands into cultivated farms to increase revenue. Various Forest Acts were enacted, restricting pastoralists' access to forests. Reserved forests were completely off-limits, while Protected forests had limited access with strict regulations. Pastoralists had to obtain permits, and their movements were controlled. These changes led to a decline in their agricultural stock and adversely affected their trades and crafts, making their traditional way of life difficult.
What roles did men and women play in the pastoral households of the Gollas of Mysore?
- Answer: In the Golla pastoral households of Mysore, men and women had distinct roles. Men primarily tended to the cattle, herding them and ensuring they had enough forage. They would stay out in the woods for weeks, looking after the herds. Women, on the other hand, were responsible for milking the cattle and producing dairy products such as milk, butter-milk, and ghee. They would then take these products to the markets every morning to sell. Additionally, women were involved in household chores and sometimes helped with minor agricultural activities near their settlements.
Discuss the significance of bugyals in the life of Gujjar cattle herders.
- Answer: Bugyals, the high-altitude meadows in the Himalayas, play a crucial role in the life of Gujjar cattle herders. During the summer, when the snow melts, these meadows come alive with a variety of grasses, roots, and herbs, providing rich and nutritious forage for their cattle. The Gujjars migrate to these bugyals to graze their herds, ensuring that the cattle remain healthy and well-fed. This seasonal movement allows the lowland pastures to recover and prevents overgrazing. The availability of such lush pastures in the bugyals is essential for the sustenance and productivity of the Gujjar herds.
Analyze how the Waste Land Rules affected pastoral communities in India.
- Answer: The Waste Land Rules implemented during colonial rule had a detrimental effect on pastoral communities in India. These rules aimed to convert uncultivated lands, deemed 'waste lands' by colonial officials, into cultivated farms to increase agricultural production and revenue. As a result, vast tracts of grazing lands regularly used by pastoralists were taken over and distributed to individuals for cultivation. This led to a significant reduction in available grazing areas, forcing pastoralists to either find new pastures or reduce their herd sizes. The loss of traditional grazing grounds disrupted their migratory patterns and impacted their livelihoods, leading to economic hardship and social dislocation.
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