Class 9 NCERT - Solved Question Answers Documents

I.    Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1.    Nomadic tribes need to move from one place to another because of—
    (a)     seasonal changes    
    (b)    their mobile nature
    (c)    their poor background
    (d)    all of the above
2.    Dhangars are an important pastoral community of which state?
    (a)    Himachal Pradesh 
    (b)    Maharashtra
    (c)    Jammu and Kashmir 
    (d)    Rajasthan 
3.    The life of pastoralists greatly changed under colonial rule. What is/are this/these change/changes?
    (a)    Their grazing grounds shrank.
    (b)    Their movements were regulated.
    (c)    They had to pay increased revenue.    
    (d)    All of the above
4. When was the Criminal Tribes Act passed?
    (a)    In 1889    (b)    In 1871
    (c)    In 1878    (d)    In 1870
5.    Why did the colonial government introduce the Grazing Tax in the mid- 19th century? 
    (a)    To expand its revenue.
    (b)    To ban cattle herder from entering grazing tracts.
    (c)    Both (a) and (b).
    (d)    None of the above
6.    How many people in Africa are dependent on some form of pastoral activity for their livelihood?
    (a)    Less than 22 million
    (b)    Over 22 million
    (c)    Over 12 million    
    (d)    Less than 12 million
7.    What percentage of the grazing lands did Maasai lose when European imperial powers divided Africa into different colonies? 
    (a)    50%     (b)    49%
    (c)    80%     (d)    60%
8.    When did European imperial powers divide Africa into different colonies? 
    (a)    In 1805    (b)    In 1882
    (c)    In 1885    (d)    In 1815
9.    Where is the Serengeti National Park located?
    (a)    Kenya    (b)    Tanzania
    (c)    Sudan    (d)    Zimbabwe
10.    The word ‘Maasai’ is derived from the word ‘Maa’. ‘Maasai’ means—
    (a)    My People    
    (b)    Mother and People
    (c)    Their People    (d)    Tribal People
11.    Which of the following pastoral nomads is not found in the mountains?
    (a)    Gaddi shepherds    
    (b)    Raikas
    (c)    Gujjar Bakarwals    
    (d)    Bhotiyas
12.    The settlement of Maru Raikas is known as—
    (a)    Dhandi    (b)    Mandi
    (c)    Mandap    (d)    Bugyal
13.    Pushkar is a famous place in Rajasthan where ............... is held every year.
    (a)    elephant fair    (b)    cattle fair
    (c)    buffalo fair    (d)    camel fair
14.    The Maasai cattle herders live primarily in—
    (a)    East Africa    (b)    West Africa
    (c)    South Africa    (d)    North Africa
15.    The Maasai Mara is a National Park in—
    (a)    Tanzania    (b)    Kenya
    (c)    Sudan    (d)    South Africa
16.    Wasteland Rules were enacted by the colonial officials in order to—
    (a)    harass the pastoralists of India
    (b)    uplift the condition of the Indian pastoralists
    (c)    turn the uncultivated lands into cultivable lands
    (d)    turn cultivable lands into forests

Ans. 1. (a)    2. (b)    3. (d)        4. (b)    5. (c)    6. (b)    7. (d)    8. (c)    9. (b)        10. (a)    11. (b)    12. (a)    13. (d)    14. (a)    15. (b)    16. (c)

II.    Very Short Answer Type Questions
Q1.    Who are nomadic pastoralists?
Ans.    Nomadic pastoralists are people who do not live in one place but move with their herds of goats and sheep from one area to another to earn their living.
Q2.    Who are the Gujjar Bakarwals?
Ans.    The Gujjar Bakarwals belong to Jammu and Kashmir. They are great herders of goats and sheep.
Q3.        What are Gujjar mandaps made of?
Ans.    Gujjar mandaps are made of ringal �— a hill bamboo �— and grass from the buggal — a vast meadow in the high mountains.
Q4.    What are bhabars?
Ans.    Bhabars are dry forested areas below the foothills of Garhwal and Kumaun.
Q5.    The life of pastoralists greatly change under the colonial rule. Mention two changes.
Ans.     (i) Their grazing grounds shrank.    (ii)  Their movements were regulated.
Q6.    What different activities were associated with Dhangars of Maharashtra?
Ans.    Most of them were shepherds, some were blanket weavers, and still others were buffalo herders.
Q7.    Where did the Kurumas and Kurub as live? What did they rear?
Ans.    The Kurumas and Kurubas lived in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. They reared sheep and goats and sold woven blankets.
Q8.    Name the pastoralists who lived in the plateaus of India.
Ans.    Dhangars, Gollas, Kurumas and Kurubas.
Q9.    Where were Banjaras to be found in India?
Ans.    Banjaras were to be found in the villages of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Q10.    Where did the Raikas live?
Ans.    The Raikas lived in the deserts of Rajasthan.
Q11.    What did the different groups of Raikas rear?
Ans.    One group of Raikas, known as the Maru or desert Raikas, herded camels and another group reared sheep and goats.
Q12.    What was the settlement of Maru Raikas called?
Ans.    The settlement of Maru Raikas was called a dhandi.
Q13.    What are customary rights?
Ans.    Customary rights are those rights that people are used to by custom and tradition.
Q14.    How did the colonial officials view the uncultivated land?
Ans.    The colonial officials viewed all uncultivated land as unproductive, which produced neither revenue nor agricultural produce. It was seen as wasteland that needed to be brought under cultivation.
Q15.    What happened after the Wasteland Rules were enacted?
Ans.    The grazing lands of postoralists were taken over and given to the select individuals to turn them into cultivated fields.
Q16.    Which forests were declared ‘reserved’ under the various Forest Acts?
Ans.    The forests which produced commercially valuable timber like deodar or sal were declared ‘reserved’ forests.
Q17.    Which Act did the colonial government in India pass in 1871? What was its main provision?
Ans.    In 1871, the colonial government in India passed the Criminal Tribes Act.                          By this Act, many communities of craftsmen, traders and pastoralists were classified as Criminal Tribes and were ordered to live only in notified village settlements.
Q18.    Why did the colonial government introduce the Grazing Tax in the mid-19th century? Give two reasons.
Ans.     (i) To expand its revenue.   (ii) To ban cattle-herders from entering grazing tracts.
Q19.    Name the pastoral communities who live in Africa.
Ans.    Bedouins, Berbers, Maasai, Somali, Boran and Turkana.
Q20.    Where do the Maasai cattle herders live?
Ans.    They live primarily in East Africa �— in Southern Kenya and Tanzania.
Q21.    How many people in Africa are dependent on some form of pastoral activity for their livelihood?
Ans.    Over 22 million Africans depend on some form of pastoral activity for their livelihood.
Q22.    What per cent of their grazing land did Maasai lose when European imperial powers divided Africa into different colonies?
Ans.    They lost about 60 per cent of their grazing lands.
Q23.    What was the status of the Maasai pastoralists in pre-colonial times?
Ans.    They had dominated their agricultural neighbours both economically and politically.
Q24.    What happened to the grazing lands of the Maasai pastoralists?
Ans.    Their grazing lands were turned into cultivable fields. Large areas of these grazing lands were also turned into game reserves.
Q25.    In pre-colonial times, Maasai society was divided into two social categories. Name them.
Ans.     (i) Elders  (ii) Warriors
Q26.    What duty was assigned to the warriors?
Ans.    The warriors were responsible for the protection of their community.
Q27.    Why were pastoralists not allowed to enter the markets in White areas?
Ans.    It was because White settlers and European colonists saw pastorialists as dangerous and savage.
Q28.    What are the major activities of the pastoral communities of Africa?
Ans.    They raise cattle, camels, goats, sheep and donkeys. They sell milk, meat, animal skin and wool.

III. Short Answer Type Questions

Q1.    Give a brief account of the Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh.  Or
Describe the cycle of seasonal movement of the Gaddi shepherds.
Ans. (i)    Like other pastoralists the Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh also kept on moving from one area to another  in search of favourable weather conditions and grazing grounds.
(ii)    They spent their winter in the low hills of Shiwalik range, grazing their flocks in scrub forests.
(iii)    By April, they moved North and spent the summer in Lahul and Spiti. When the snow melted and the high passes were clear, many of the Gaddi shepherds moved on to higher mountain meadows.
(iv)    By September, they began their return movement. On the way, they stopped once again in the villages of Lahul and Spiti, reaping their summer harvest and sowing their winter crop. Then they descended with their flock to their winter grazing ground on the Shiwalik hills.
Q2.    Name the pastoral communities of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Mention their occupations. Or
         Write a brief note on the pastoral communities of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Ans. (i)    The pastoral communities found in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were the Gollas, the Kurumas and the Kurubas.
(ii)    The Gollas herded cattle. The Kurumas and Kurubas reared sheep and goats and sold woven blankets.
(iii)    They lived near the woods, cultivated small patches of land, engaged in a variety of petty trades and took care of their herds.
(iv)    These pastoral communities moved to the coastal tracts in the dry season and left when the rains came.
Q3.    Explain why nomadic people need to move from one area to another.  Or
Why do nomadic  people follow a cycle of seasonal movement?
Ans.    Nomadic people need to move from one area to another because of the following reasons:
(i)    The climate of one area does not remain favourable or suitable throughout the year. So far it is suitable for them and their cattle, they live in that area but leave it soon when it becomes unfavourable.
(ii)    By making movements they make the most effective use of the available pastures in different areas.
(iii)    Their movement also enables them to grow seasonal crops. For instance, the Dhangars of Maharashtra grow bajra, a dry crop, in the semi-arid region with low rainfall and poor soil.
Q4.    The life of the pastoral groups was sustained by a careful consideration of a host of factors. Explain these factors. Or
        What factors sustained the life of the pastoral groups in India?    [HOTS]
Ans. (i)    In course of moving from one place to another, the pastoral groups had to judge how long the herds could stay in a certain area and know where they could find ample 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 a relationship with farmers on the way, so that the herds could graze in harvested fields and manure the soil.
Q5.    How did various Forest Acts affect the lives of Indian pastoralists?    [HOTS]
Ans.    Various Forest Acts deeply affected the lives of pastoralists.
(i)    All their freedom was snatched. They were now prevented from entering many forests that had earlier provided valuable forage for their cattle.
(ii)    Even in the areas they were allowed entry, their movements were regulated. They needed a permit for entry. The timing of their entry and departure was specified and the number of days they could spend in the forest was limited.
(iii)    Pastoralists could no longer remain in an area even if forage was available; the grass was succulant and the undergrowth in the forest was ample.
(iv)    Thus, their life was now ruled by the Forest Department permits that had been issued to them. The permit specified the periods in which they could be legally within a forest. If they overstayed, they were fined.
Q6.    What happened to the animal stock when pasture lands were turned into cultivated lands?
Ans.    As pasture lands got shrunk, the existing animal stock had to feed on whatever grazing land remained. This led to continuous intensive grazing of these pastures. Usually nomadic pastoralists grazed their animals in one area and moved to another area. These pastoral movements allowed time for the natural restoration of vegetation growth. When restrictions were imposed on pastoral movements, grazing lands came to be continuously used and the quality of pastures declined. This in turn created a further shortage of forage for animals and the deterioration of animal stock. Underfed cattle died in large numbers during scarcities and famines.
Q7.    Describe the pastoral communities of Africa. Also mention their occupation.
Ans. (i)    Over half the world’s pastoral population lives in Africa. The African pastoral population includes communities like Bedouins, Berbers, Maasai, Somali and Boran. Most of them now live in the semi-arid grasslands or arid deserts where rainfed agriculture is difficult.
(ii)    They are engaged in different activities. They rear cattle, camels, goats, sheep and donkeys and they sell milk, meat, animal skin and wool. Some also earn through trade and transport. Others combine pastoral activity with agriculture. Still others do a variety of odd jobs to supplement their meagre and uncertain earnings from pastoralism.
Q8.    Describe Maasai society that existed in pre-colonial times.
Ans.    In pre-colonial times, Maasai society was divided into two social categories—elders and warriors.
(i)    The elders formed the ruling group and met in periodic councils to decide on the affairs of the community and settle disputes.
(ii)    The warriors consisted of younger people. They were mainly responsible for the protection of the tribe. They defended the community and organised cattle raids.
(iii)    Raiding was important because cattle was wealth in Maasai society. It is through raids that the power of different pastoral groups was asserted.
(iv)    Young men came to be recognised as members of the warrior class when they proved their manliness by raiding the cattle of other pastoral groups and participating in wars. But they were subject to the authority of the elders.
Q9.    Distinguish between the reserved forests and protected forests.
Ans.    Reserved Forests    Protected Forests
(i)    Forests having commercially valuable timber, like deodar or sal, were classified as ‘Reserved’ forests.    (i)
In these forests, some customary grazing rights of pastoralists were granted but their movements were severely restricted.
(ii)    Pastoralists were not allowed to move in reserved forests. These were inaccessible to the pastoralists.    

(ii)    Pastoralists were allowed to move in these forests but they had to take permission from the government.

Q10.    Discuss why the colonial government introduced the Wasteland Rules in India. How did the Wasteland Rules change the life of pastoralists [HOTS]
Ans.    (i) The colonial state wanted to transform all grazing lands into cultivated farms because the colonial government considered any uncultivated land as unproductive.
(ii)    If this land could be transformed into cultivable farmland, it would result in an increase in land revenue and production of crops such as jute, cotton and wheat.
(iii)    All grazing lands were considered as waste lands by the colonial rulers as they brought no revenue to them.
(iv)    From the mid-nineteenth century, Wasteland Rules were enacted in various parts of the country.
Q11.    How did the Wasteland Rules change the life of the pastoralists?
Ans.    The Wasteland Rules completely changed the life of the pastoralists.
(i)    By these Rules, uncultivated lands were taken over and given to select individuals.
(ii)    These individuals were granted various concessions and encouraged to settle these lands. Some of them were made headmen of villages in the newly cleared areas. In most areas, the lands taken over were actually grazing tracts used regularly by pastoralists.
(iii)    Expansion of cultivation ineritably meant the decline of pastures and a problem for pastoralists.
Q12.    Where were the Raikas found? Write briefly about their way of living.
Ans.    The Raikas were found in the deserts of Rajasthan. The rainfall in the region was poor and uncertain. Hence, 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, they moved out in search of other pasture and water and returned again during the next monsoon.
One group of Raikas, known as the Maru (desert) Raikas, herded camels and another group reared sheep and goats.
Q13.    What was the impact of frequent droughts on the pasture lands of the Maasai community?    [HOTS]
Ans.    Drought affects the life of pastoralists everywhere. When rains fail and pastures are dry, cattle are likely to starve unless they can be moved to areas where forage is available. But, in the colonial administration, the Maasai were forced to live within the confined areas. They could not move beyond the boundaries without special permits.
They were cut-off from the best grazing lands and forced to live within a semi-arid tract prone to droughts. Since they could not shift their cattle to places where pastures were available, large number of Maasai cattle died of starvation and disease in these years of drought.  In just two years of severe drought, 1933 and 1934, over half the cattle in the Maasai Reserve died.
As the area of grazing lands shrank, the adverse effect of the droughts increased in intensity. The frequent bad years led to a steady decline of the animal stock of the pastoralists.
Q14.    What kind of life did the chiefs appointed by the colonial government lead?
Ans.    The colonial government appointed chiefs of different sub-groups of Maasai who were made responsible for the affairs of the tribe.
These chiefs often accumulated wealth overtime. They had a regular income with which they could buy animals, goods and land. They lent money to poor neighbours who needed cash to pay taxes. Many of the chiefs began living in towns and started trade. They managed to survive the devastations of war and drought. They had both pastoral and non-pastoral income and could buy animals when their stock was depleted.
Q15.    What restrictions were imposed by the colonial rule on the African pastoralists?
Ans.    The following restrictions were imposed by the colonial rule on the African pastoralists:
(i)    Colonial government began imposing various restrictions on their mobility. 
(ii)    Pastoral groups were also forced to live within the confines of special reserves. 
(iii)    They could not move beyond the boundaries without special permits.
(iv)    They were cut off from the best grazing lands and forced to live within a semi-arid tract which were prone to frequent droughts. 
(v)    The pasture lands were turned into cultivable fields and game reserves. Pastoralists were not allowed to enter these reserves.
(vi)    The natives were also issued passes. Without showing it, they were not allowed to enter the restricted areas.

IV.     Long Answer Type Questions

Q1.    How did the Indian pastoralists cope with the changes that was brought about by the British colonial officials?    [HOTS]
Ans.    Under colonial rule, the life of the Indian pastoralists changed dramatically. Their grazing grounds shrank, their movements were regulated and the revenue they had to pay increased. However, they coped with these changes bravely and patiently.
(i)    Some pastoralists reduced the number of cattle in their herds, since there was not enough pasture to feed large numbers.
(ii)    Others discovered new pastures when movement to old grazing grounds became difficult. For instance, the new political boundaries between India and Pakistan after 1947 stopped the movement of the Raikas. So, they had to find new places to go. In recent years, they have been migrating to Haryana where sheep can graze on agricultural fields after the harvests are cut.
(iii)    Some pastoralists, who were rich, gave up their nomadic life. They bought land and settled down.
(iv)    Some pastoralists became settled peasants cultivating land. Others took to more extensive trading.
(v)    Many poor pastoralists borrowed money from moneylenders to survive. At times they lost their cattle and sheep and became labourers, working on fields or in small towns.
Q2.    Why were chiefs appointed by the British? How was their life different from the poor pastoralists?
Ans.    The British appointed chiefs of different sub-groups of Maasai, who were made responsible for the affairs of the tribe (Maasai).
These chiefs were not honest at all. They often accumulated wealth over time. They had a regular income with which they could buy animals, goods and land. Many of them began living in towns and became involved in trade. Their wives and children stayed back in the villages to look after the animals. These chiefs managed to survive the devastations of war and drought. They had both pastoral and non-pastoral income and could buy animals when their stock was depleted.
But the life of the poor pastoralists was full of miseries. They depended only on their livestock. Most often, they did not have the resources to cope with bad times. In times of war and famine, they lost nearly everything. They had to go looking for work in the towns. Some worked as charcoal burners, others did odd jobs. The lucky could get more regular work in road or building construction. Thus, there was a wide gap between the chiefs and the pastoralists.
Q3.    Write briefly about the pastoral nomads found in different parts of India.
Ans.    The pastoral nomads were found in different parts of India such as in the mountains, on plateaus, plains and in deserts.
In the Mountains:

• The Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir were great herders of goats and sheep. They moved annually between their summer and winter grazing grounds. In summer, the Gujjar herders went up to the high meadows — the bugyals, and in winter they came down to the dry forests of the Bhabar.
• The Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh had a similar cycle of seasonal movement. They, too, spent their winter in the low hills of Shiwalik range, grazing their flocks in scrub forests. By April, they moved north and spent the summer in Lahul and Spiti. 

When the snow melted and the high passes were clear, many of them moved on to higher mountain meadows. By September, they began their return movement. 
On the Plateaus:

• Dhangars were an important pastoral community of Maharashtra. Most of them were shepherds, blanket weavers, and others are buffalo herders. They grew kharif and rabi crops like bajra, rice.
• The Gollas, Kurumas and Kurubas were pastoral communities that lived in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The Gollas herded cattle. The Kurumas and Kurubas reared sheep and goats and sold woven blankets.  They cultivated small patches of land and got engaged in a variety of petty trades also.

On the Plains:

• Banjaras were yet another well-known group of graziers. They were to be found in the villages of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. They moved over long distances in search of good pastureland for their cattle. Practice of selling plough cattle and other goods to villagers in exchange for grain and fodder was common among them.

In Deserts:

• Raikas lived in the deserts of Rajasthan. They received meagre and uncertain rainfall in this region. During the monsoons, the Raikas of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner stayed in their home villages and, 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. One group of Raikas—known as the Maru (desert) Raikas—herded cattle and the other group reared sheep and goats.

Q4.    Write a brief note on the pastoralism in Africa.    [HOTS]
Ans.    Over half the world’s pastoral population lives in Africa. Even today, over 22 million Africans depend on some form of pastoral activity for their livelihood. They include communities like Bedouins, Berbers, Maasai, Somali, Boran and Turkana. Most of them now live in the semi-arid grasslands or arid-deserts where rainfed agriculture is not possible. They raise cattle, camels, goats, sheep and donkeys. They sell milk, meat, animal skin and wool. Some also earn through trade and transport. Others combine pastoral activity with agriculture to earn more. Still others do a variety of odd jobs so to supplement their poor and uncertain earnings from pastoralism.
The lives of African pastoralists changed a lot over the colonial and post-colonial period. From the late 19th century, the British colonial government in East Africa began to expand land for cultivation. As cultivation expanded, pasturelands were turned into cultivable fields. These brought a number of problems for the pastoralists. Their life became tough.

V.    Source-based Question
Q.    Read the following extract (Source D) taken from NCERT textbook, page 105 and answer the questions that follow:

(i)    When was the Royal Commission Report on agriculture presented in India?
(ii)    What was it about?
(iii)    What problems did the breeders face?    [HOTS]
Ans.    (i)    The Royal Commission Report on agriculture was presented in India in 1928.
(ii)    The report was about the rapid reduction in the area available for grazing. This was done to expand cultivation. The report also highlighted the causes which were:
– Increasing population.
– Extension of irrigation facilities.
– Acquiring the pastures for government purposes.
(iii)    It became difficult for the breeders to raise large herds. Thus, their earnings went down. The quality of their livestock also deteriorated.

VI. Picture/Map-based Questions

Q. Observe the map carefully. It indicates the location of different pastoral communities in India. On the basis of your observation, answer the following questions.

(i)    Mention any four nomadic tribes with the help of the map and mention the states they are found in.
(ii)    Where were the Gollas, Kurumas and Kurubas found? Write briefly about them.
Ans.(i) (a) The Gujjar Bakarwals — Jammu and Kashmir 
(b)     The Gaddi shepherds — Himachal Pradesh 
(c)     Dhangars — Maharashtra.
(d)     Raikas — Rajasthan.
(ii)    The Gollas, Kurumas and Kurubas lived in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh. The Gollas herded cattle. The Kurumas and Kurubas reared sheep and goats and sold woven blankets. They lived near the woods, cultivated small patches of land, engaged in a variety of petty trades and took care of their herds.

VII. Value-based Questions
Q1.    Pastoralists form an important segment of the Indian population. But their lives got badly affected during the colonial government in India. Their movements were restricted, the available area of their pastureland declined. Inspite of all these hurdles, they maintained their entity with full grace.
Give three values which are reflected from them.
Ans.    The British colonial government in India posed many problems before the nature-loving pastoralists. But they did not get discouraged. Instead, they showed the following values which are really inspiring to all:
(i)    Unity    
(ii)    Inner strength
(iii)    Determination
(iv)    Respect for self-dignity
Q2.    Which values were associated with the warriors in Maasai society?
Ans.    The Maasai society was divided into two social categories — elders and warriors. The warriors consisted of younger people. They were mainly responsible for the protection of the tribe. They defended the community and organised cattle raids. Once they raided the cattle of other pastoral groups, they could easily prove their manliness. 
The values associated with these warriors are:
(i)    Team work
(ii)    Determination
(iii)    Dutifulness

Test Your Skills
    1.    How were the reserved forests different from the protected forests?
    2.    How did the Wasteland Rules change the life of pastoralists?
    3.    What kind of life did the chiefs lead?
    4.    Who were the Gujjar Bakarwals?
    5.    What is meant by the cyclical movement of the pastoral nomads?