Understanding Needs and Potential of Nomadic Communities

Bharat Dogra

Nomadic communities have often been depicted in films and other media for various colourful aspects of their life, their rich music and joyful dances. However, the grim reality of their increasing problems also needs careful attention. The word careful is important here as nomadic communities in various parts of world have often been victims of prejudice and misunderstanding. The biggest misconception has been that the nomadic way of life is inherently and solutions should be seen only in terms of settlement. In this distorted thinking the many-sided potential, knowledge and skills of nomadic people are simply ignored.

Such narrow, distorted and wrong notions about nomads have led to the snatching away of livelihoods of several nomadic communities such as Kalandars of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states of India. In the Sahel region of Africa this lack of understanding of nomadic life proved even more harmful as big agribusiness companies took over a lot of land which disrupted the life-pattern of nomadic pastorals and led of large number of deaths of pastoral people in famine conditions the Sahelian region.

However hose who tried to carefully study the nomadic way of life tell a different story of a lot of hidden wisdom in their patterns of living.Frances Moore Lappe and Joseph Collins write in their widely acclaimed book, Food First: "While the migrations of nomadic pastoral people might look random to outsiders, they are, in reality, patterned to take advantage of variations in rainfall and vegetation.  The nomads may herd their livestock over hundreds of miles from rainy season pastures to oases of perennial grasses in dry seasons…  The nomadic tactics make use of resources that others would not even consider resources." 

K.S. Fraudenberger, a social scientist who has worked extensively in Africa, particularly Senegal, says, "Pastoralists like FulBe play a critical role in the sustainable management of fragmented ecosystems.  Both Third World governments and aid agencies need to recognize this.  The key is to work with local people to develop policies to protect grazing lands and nomadic rights where pastoralism is both more sustainable and more environmentally appropriate than farming."

In India, a very important contribution of nomads has been to make available hardy breeds of cattle.  The Royal Commission of Agriculture noted, "If inquiry were to be made into the history of such breeds…….we believe it would be found, in most cases that their excellence was due to the care bestowed on them by the professional cattle breeders, usually nomadic.  They usually worked under unfavourable conditions, but their skill in selecting and tending cattle was…..considerable."

Researchers who have looked at the life-patterns of nomadic communities have helped in clearing several misconceptions about them. The Van Gujar nomadic community in Uttarakhand was frequently blamed for harming forests. However, a study by A. Clark, H. Sewill and R. Walts which examined the evidence carefully concluded, "From our study we found that crown cover was relatively unaffected by lopping and that there was an increase in ground vegetation in an area with lopped trees with would decrease the possibility of erosion." A 'Community Forest Management in Protected Areas' (CFMPA) plan for involving Van Gujars in forest protection described the several skills and admirable world-view of Van Gujars in detail. On the knowledge of Van Gujars about forests this plan said, "To walk through the forest with a van gujar guide is a lesson in bio-diversity; every species of tree is known, its quality as fodder, the timing of its leaf-fall, medicinal properties and so on. Every sound has meaning, every bird known and its habits noted, every fallen branch or tree noted."

The skills of the Van Gujars in buffalo breeding are also described in this document—“’ the van gujar buffalo are not the rather dopey animals one sees commonly in Indian villages but a livelier and altogether more robust breed with the endurance to cover great distances on very little food and the strength to scramble over rocks in high mountain pastures.  Quietly sleeping with eyes closed by day or wallowing contentedly in a mud-hole, they come alive after dark and are said to possess excellent night vision.  Either sex is quite capable of fending off predators and indeed deer are said to actively seek out their protection.  Easily distinguished by their appearance and personality, each is named individually, much as human beings are named...... Injured animals are carefully tended and unproductive animals are neither killed nor sold."

As for their special needs of migration this document said, "It is said these buffaloes themselves initiate the migration, becoming restless for the hills as the April heat increases and then again becoming anxious to descend as the mountain air cools in late September.  They know the regular stops along the route, and where water is to be found."

A study of the Bhotiyas of the Kumaon Himalaya titled 'Living on the Move' by Vineeta Hoon has also argued along similar lines that their nomadic life is based on a good understanding of and adjustment with the existing resource base.  She writes,"The Bhotiyas recognize the unique seasonal opportunities offered by their mountain environment and utilize them in an ecologically sustainable manner. ....Over the course of many generations they have devised and refined a set of economic strategies and land use practices, and have developed a system of mountain resource mangement attuned to the opportunities of their high mountain ecosystem. Energy analysis and time-space analysis have also demonstrated that pastoral nomadism and transhumance are appropriate eco-technologies which are effective in using a marginal environment without damaging it ...They synchronize their life with the season in such a way that they utilize energy resources in different altitudinal levels as they become available to them within the annual cycle of transhumance and nomadism."

This study emphasised that shepherds are a storehouse of knowledge on high altitude plants. "They know which portions of the plants to collect as food, medicines and seasoning, they also know the best time for collection and understand the symbiotic relations between different species of plants." This knowledge has been passed on from one generation to another on the basis of an informal system of education. Vineeta Hoon says," The informal indigenous education system taught the next generation survival skills and economic strategies to survive in the harsh Himalayan habitat. This knowledge was passed down orally and is ingrained in their songs, dances and folklore. They were innovative in their teaching methods with a focus on learning by doing."

Some nomadic groups have also made an important contribution in water conservation. To meet water needs while moving in water-scarce areas nomadic groups showed great skills in conserving water, finding and protecting water sources which also proved helpful for other travelers and settled villagers as well. Pichola lake, an important source of water in Udaipur City, was constructed by Banjara nomads while the Maldhari nomads of Kutch developed a unique rain water harvesting system called Virda.

Keeping in view these many-sided achievements of nomads and nomadic communities, it is really sad that in most dealings with them others, including officials, take their assumed backwardness for granted and so invariably talk in terms of asking them to give up their rich traditions. A different approach based on sympathy and understanding is needed and media can make an important contribution in this. This will make it possible to understand their needs in changing times and in special problem situations.

The writer of this document is a journalist and author who has been involved closely with several social movements and initiatives. He is Convener of   Save the Earth Now Campaign and its SED Demand. Web-site www.bharatdogra.in

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Frontier
Jul 12, 2020