Pastoralists in the Modern World — Question 4

Two examples of changes that were similar for Indian pastoralists and the Maasai herders are:

1. Loss of Grazing Lands — Both communities lost their grazing lands due to the preference given to cultivation. Colonial powers considered uncultivated land as “waste land” and brought it under cultivation. This expansion of cultivation encroached upon grazing tracts regularly used by pastoralists, leading to a decline in available pastures for both Indian pastoralists and the Maasai.
2. Movement Restrictions — The colonial governments imposed restrictions on pastoral communities. They issued permits for movement with livestock. Many forests were declared as reserves in India and also in Africa. Thus, both Indian pastoralists and the Maasai faced restriction on their traditional nomadic way of life.