There are many similarities in the way in which the modern world forced changes in the lives of pastoral communities in India and East Africa. Write about any two examples of changes which were similar for Indian pastoralists and the Maasai herders.
(a) In India, by the mid-nineteenth century, various forests acts were passed. Through these acts some forests which produced commercially valuable timber like deodar and sal were declared ‘reserved'. No pastoralist was allowed access to these forests.
In protected forests some customary rights of the pastoralists were granted but their movement was restricted. In Maasail and, large areas of grazing land were turned into game reserves. Pastoralists could not enter the reserves, they could neither hunt animals nor graze their herds.
(b) Forest Acts changed the lives of the pastoralists. They could not enter many forests, which had earlier provided forage for their cattle. They needed a permit for entry, their entry and departure was specified and the number of days they could spend in the Forest was limited. The pastoral groups in Africa were forced to stay within the limits of the reserves. They could not move out with their stock without special permits. It was difficult to get permits.