विषय : सामाजिक विज्ञान (इतिहास हमारे अतीत -2)
अध्याय :-7 (जनजातियाँ, खानाबदोश और एक जगह बसे हुए
समुदाय)
1
. निम्नलिखित
में मेल बिठाये :-
(क) गढ़ खेल
(ख) टांडा चौरासी
(ग) श्रमिक
कारवाँ
(घ) कुल
गढ़ कटंगा
(ड़) सिब सिंह
अहोम राज्य
(च) दुर्गावती पाइक
उत्तर:-
(क) गढ़ चौरासी
(ख) टांडा कारवाँ
(ग) श्रमिक
पाइक
(घ) कुल
खेल
(ड़) सिब सिंह
अहोम
राज्य
(च) दुर्गावती
गढ
कटंगा
2. रिक्त स्थानों की पूर्ति
करें:-
वर्गों
के भीतर पैदा होती नयी जातियाँ ______कहलाती थीं।
________
अहोम
लोगों लिखी गई ऐतिहासिक कृतियों थीं।
________ने इस बात का उल्लेख किया है
कि गढ़ कटंगा में 70,000 गाँव थे।
बड़े और
ताकतवर होने पर जनजातीय राज्यों ने _____ और ____ को भूमि अनुदान दिए।
उत्तर:-
(क) वर्गों के भीतर पैदा होती
नयी जातियाँ श्रेणियाँ कहलाती थीं।
(ख) बुरंजी अहोम लोगों लिखी गई ऐतिहासिक
कृतियों थीं।
(ग) अकबरनामा ने इस बात का उल्लेख किया है
कि गढ़ कटंगा में 70,000 गाँव थे।
(घ) बड़े और ताकतवर होने पर
जनजातीय राज्यों ने मंदिर
बनवाए और ब्राह्मणों को भूमि अनुदान दिए।
3. सही या गलत बताइए:-
(क) जनजातीय समाजों के पास
समृद्ध वाचक परंपराएँ थीं।
(ख) उपमहाद्वीप के
उत्तर-पश्चिमी भाग में कोई जनजातीय समुदाय नहीं था।
(ग) गोंड राज्यों में अनेक
नगरों को मिला कर चौरासी बनता था।
(घ) भील, उपमहाद्वीप के उत्तर-पूर्वी
भाग में रहते थे।
उत्तर:-
(क) जनजातीय समाज के पास समृद्ध
वाचक परंपराएँ थीं। (सही)
(ख) उपमहाद्वीप के
उत्तर-पश्चिमी भाग में कोई जनजातीय समुदाय नहीं था। (गलत)
(ग) गोंड राज्यों में अनेक
नगरों को मिला कर चौरासी बनता था। (गलत)
(घ) भील, उपमहाद्वीप के उत्तर-पूर्वी
भाग में रहते थे। (गलत)
4. खानाबदोश पशुचारकों और एक जगह
बसे हुए खेतिहरों के बीच किस तरह का विनिमय होता था ?
उत्तर:- खानाबदोश पशुचारक अपने जानवरों
के साथ दूर दूर तक घूमते थे। उनका जीवन दूध और अन्य पशुचारी उत्पादों पर निर्भर
था। वे खेतिहर ग्रहस्थों से अनाज, कपड़े, बर्तन और ऐसी ही चीजों के लिए
ऊन,
घी
इत्यादि का विनियम भी करते थे। कुछ खानाबदोश अपने पशुओं के ऊपर समान ढुलाई का काम भी करते थे।
आइए समझे:-
5. अहोम राज्य का प्रशासन कैसे
संगठित था ?
उत्तर :- अहोम लोग मौजूदा म्यांमार से
आकर तेरहवीं सदीं में ब्रह्मपुत्र घाटी में आ बसे। उन्होंने भूस्वामी लोगों की
पुरानी राजनीतिक व्यवस्था का दमन करके नए राज्य की स्थापना की। उन्होने कई अन्य जन
जातियों को भी अधीन कर लिया था। अहोमो ने एक बड़ा राज्य बनाया। और इसके लिए 1530 के दशक में ही, इतने वर्षों पहले आग्नेय
अस्त्रों का इस्तेमाल किया। अहोम राज्य बेरोजगार पर निर्भर था। राज्य के लिए जिन
लोगों से जबरन काम करवाया जाता था पाइक कहलाते
थे। अहोम राज्य में एक जनगणना की गई थी कि प्रत्येक गांव को अपनी बारी आने पर
निश्चित संख्या में पाइक भेजने होते थे। इसके लिए जनगणना के बाद सघन आबादी वाले
इलाकों से कम आबादी वाले इलाकों में लोगों को स्थानांतरित किया गया था। इस प्रकार
अहोम कुल टूट गए थे। सत्रहवीं शताब्दी का पूर्वार्ध पूरा होते होते प्रशासन खासा
संगठित हो चुका था। अहोम समाज कुलों में विभाजित था, जिन्हें खेल कहा जाता था। एक
खेल के नियंत्रण में कई गांव होते थे। किसान को अपने ग्राम समुदाय के द्वारा जमीन
दी जाती थी। इस प्रकार अहोम गांव में सारा प्रशासन संगठित किया हुआ था।
6. वर्ण आधारित समाज में क्या
परिवर्तन आए ?
उत्तर:- वर्ण आधारित समाज में नए
परिवर्तन आए:-
वर्णो
के भीतर छोटी – छोटी जातियाँ उभरने लगी। उदाहरण के लिए ब्राह्मणों के बीच नई
जतियां सामने आई। दूसरी ओर, कई जनजातियों और सामाजिक
समूहों को जाति – विभाजित समाज में शामिल कर लिया गया और उन्हें जातियों का दर्जा
दे दिया गया। विशेषज्ञता प्राप्त शिल्पियों जैसे:- लोहार, सुनार, बढ़ई और राजमिस्त्री को भी
ब्राह्मणों द्वारा जातियों के रूप में मान्यता दे दी गई। वर्ण के स्थान पर जाति
सामाजिक संगठन का आधार बनी।
7. एक राज्य के रूप में संगठित हो
जाने के बाद जनजातीय समाज कैसे बदला ?
उत्तर :-एक राज्य के रूप में संगठित हो
जाने के बाद जनजातीय समाज में कई तरह के बदलाव आए:-
हूँण, चन्देल, चालुक्य और कुछ दूसरी वंश
परम्पराओं में से कुछ दूसरी परम्पराओं से आते थे। उनमे से कुछ पहले जनजातियों में
आते थे और बाद में कई कुल राजपूत मान लिए गए। धीरे धीरे उन्होंने पुराने शासकों की
जगह ले ली,
विशेष
रूप से कृषि वाले क्षेत्रों में। यहाँ कई तरह के परिवर्तन होते थे और शासकों से
शक्तिशाली राज्यों के रूप में अपनी सम्पदा का इस्तेमाल किया। शासकों के रूप में
राजपूत गोत्रों के उदय के उदाहरण का जनजातीय लोगों ने अनुसरण किया। धीरे धीरे
ब्राह्मणों के समर्थन से कई जनजातियाँ भी जाति व्यवस्था का हिस्सा बन गई, लेकिन केवल प्रमुख जनजातीय
परिवार ही शासक वर्ग में शामिल हो सके। उनकी बहुसंख्यक आबादी, समाज के छोटे जातियों में ही
अपनी जगह बना पाई।
आइए विचार करें :-
8. क्या बंजारे लोग अर्थव्यवस्था
के लिए महत्वपूर्ण थे ?
उत्तर :- बंजारे लोग सबसे महत्वपूर्ण
व्यापारी खानाबदोश थे। उनका कारवां ‘टांडा’ कहलाता था। सुलतान अलाउद्दीन
खिलजी बंजारों का ही इस्तेमाल नगर के बाजारों तक अनाज की ढुलाई के लिए करते थे।
बादशाह जहांगीर ने संस्मरणों में लिखा है कि बंजारे विभिन्न इलाकों से अपने अनाज
ले जाकर शहरों में बेचते थे। सैन्य अभियानों के दौरान वे मुग़ल सेना के लिए
खाद्यानो की ढुलाई का काम करते थे। अपने गाय बैलों पर से सामान उतारने के बाद
उन्हें खुला छोड़ देते थे। क्योंकि यहाँ ज़मीन पर्याप्त है और कोई रोकने वाला
नहीं।
9. गोंड लोगों
का इतिहास, अहोमों
के इतिहास से किन मायनों में भिन्न था ?
क्या कोई समानता भी थी ?
उत्तर :- असमानताएँ:- गोंड लोग गोंडवाना के विशाल
वनप्रदेश में रहते थे अर्थात इनका रहने का स्थान पहले से यही था। जबकि अहोम के लोग
म्यानमार से आकर ब्रह्मपुत्र घाटी में बस गए थे। अहोम ने अपने लिए एक बड़ा राज्य
बना लिया था लेकिन गोंड लोगों का अपना एक राजा और राय
होती थी। अहोम लोग बेगार पर निर्भर थे और गोंड लोग बेगार पर निर्भर नहीं थे।
गोंड लोगों ने सत्ता और पहचान के
लिए राजपूतों से वैवाहिक सम्बन्ध बना लिए थे लेकिन अहोम लोगों ने ऐसा नहीं किया
था।
समानताएँ:- ये दोनों ही जनजातियाँ थी।
दोनों ने मुगलों को हरा दिया था। दोनों ने ब्राह्मणो को प्रसन्न करने के लिए भूमि
दान में दी थी। दोनों जनजातियाँ केंद्रीय प्रशासन व्यवस्था में बंधी हुई थी।
आइए करके देखें :-
10. एक
मानचित्र पर इस अध्याय में उल्लेखित जनजातियों के इलाकों को चिन्हित करें। किन्हीं
के संबंध में यह चर्चा करें कि क्या उनके जीविकोपार्जन का तरीका अपने-अपने इलाकों
की भौगोलिक विशेषताओं और पर्यावरण के अनुरूप था?
उत्तर:- गोंड :- गोंड लोग गोंडवाना नामक विशाल
वन प्रदेश में रहते थे। वे जगह बदल बदल कर खेती करते थे। विशाल गोंड जनजाति कई
छोटे –
छोटे
कुलों में बटी हुई थी। प्रत्येक कुल का अपना राजा या राय थी । जिस समय दिल्ली के
सुल्तानों की ताकत घट रही थी उसी समय कुछ बड़े गोंड राज्य छोटे गोंड साम्राज्य पर
हावी होने लगे थे। गोंड एक समृद्ध राज्य था। ये अपनी आजीविका हाथियों को पकड़कर और
दूसरे राज्यों में निर्यात कर कमाते थे।
अहोम :- अहोम जनजाति वर्तमान म्यानमार
से आकर ब्रह्मपुत्र घाटी में बस गए थे। भारत के इस उत्तर–पूर्व भाग वर्षा बहुत होती थी।
यहाँ पानी की कोई कमी न थी। यहाँ की भूमि भी उपजाऊ थी। इस प्रकार यहाँ उनके लिए
जीविकोपार्जन के उत्तम साधन थे। धीरे – धीरे उन्होंने यहाँ एक नए
राज्य की स्थापना की। सोलहवीं सदी के दौरान उन्होंने चुटियों (1523) और कोच–हाजों (1581) के राज्यों को हराकर अपने राज्य
का विस्तार किया। अहोम राज्य बेगार पर निर्भर था।
11. जनजातीय
समूहों के संबंध में मौजूदा सरकारी नीतियों का पता लगाये और उनके बारे में एक बहस
का आयोजन करें।
उत्तर:- जनजातीय समूहों के लिए सरकार
ने कई सुविधाएं दिलवाई । बच्चों के लिए शिक्षा व्यव्स्था की। लोगों के लिए घर, पानी, बिजली, जैसी सुविधाएं प्रदान की।
लोगों को नौकरी प्रदान की। खाने पीने की भी सभी व्यवस्था की। सरकार आज भी लोगों की
सुविधाओं के लिए कुछ ना कुछ उपाय करती रहती है। इनकी स्थिति को सुधारने के लिए
सरकारी नौकरी जैसे आरक्षण किए।
12. उपमहाद्वीप
में वर्तमान खानाबदोश पशुचारी समूहों के बारे में और पता लगाएँ। वे कौन से जानवर
रखते हैं? वे
प्रायः किन इलाकों में जाते रहते हैं।
उत्तर:-
पशुचारी
समूह
क्षेत्र
भोटिया
तथा मोन्यास
उत्तर – पूर्व राज्य
बंजारे
मध्य
भारत
राइका
राजस्थान
गद्दी
हिमाचल
प्रदेश
गुज्जर
जम्मू
और कश्मीर
धंगर
महाराष्ट्र
मालाचारिस
गुजरात
जानवर
ये लोग भेड़ – बकरी, भैस, ऊँट तथा गाय – बैल आदि पालते हैं।
Chapter 7
Tribes, Nomads And Settled Communities
1. Match the following:
garh
– khel
tanda –
chaurasi
labourer –
caravan
clan
– Garha Katanga
Sib Singh – Ahom State
Durgawati – paik
Answer:
garh – chaurasi
tanda – caravan
labourer – paik
clan – khel
Sib Singh – Ahom state
Durgawati – Garha Katanga
2. Fill in the blanks:
1.
The new castes
emerging within vamas were called……………………
2.
……… were historical
works written by the Ahoms.
3.
The…….. mentions that
Garha Katanga had 70,000 villages.
4.
As tribal stales
became bigger and stronger they gave land grants to………….. ..
Answer:
1.
jatis
2.
Buraryis
3.
Akbar Nama
4.
temples, Brahmanas.
3. State whether true or false:
(a) Tribal societies had rich oral traditions.
(b) There were no tribal communities in the
north-western part of the subcontinent.
(c) The Chaurasi in Gond states contained
several cities.
(d) The Bhils lived in the north-eastern part
of the sub-continent.
Answer: (a)—T, (b)—F, (c)—F, (d)—F.
4. What kinds of exchanges took place between
nomadic pastoralists and settled agriculturists?
Answer:
1.
Nomadic pastoralists gave wool, ghee etc.
2.
Settled agriculturalists gave the nomadic pastoralists grains,
cloth, utensils and other products.
5. How was the administration of the Ahom
state-organized?
Answer:
Administration of
Ahoms
1.
The Ahom state depended upon forced labour.
·
The forced workers were called paiks.
A census of the population was taken.
·
Each village had to send a number of paiks by rotation.
·
People from heavily populated areas were shifted to less
populated places. — Ahom clans were thus broken up.
By the first half of the seventeenth century, the administration
became quite centralised.
6. What changes took place in vama-based
society?
Answer: The following changes took place in uama-based
society:
·
Smaller castes or jatis emerged within vamas.
·
On the other hand, many tribes and social groups were taken into
caste-based society and given the status of jatis.
·
Specialised artisans such as smiths, carpenters and masons were
also recognised as separate jatis by the Brahmanas.
·
Jatis rather than vama became the basis for organising society.
·
Among the Kshatriyas, new Rajput clans became powerful.
·
Many tribes became part of the caste system. But only the
leading tribal families could join the ruling class. A large majority joined
the lower jatis of caste society.
·
Many dominant tribes of Punjab, Sind and the North-West Frontier
had adopted Islam. They continued to reject the caste-system.
7. How did tribal societies change after being
organised into a state?
Answer:
Changes in the Society
1.
The emergence of large states changed the nature of tribal
society.
2.
Equal society gradually got divided into unequal social classes.
·
Brahmanas received land grants from the Gond rajas.
·
They became more influential.
The Gond chiefs now wished to be recognised as Rajputs.
·
Aman Das, the Gond raja of Garha Katanga, assumed the title of
Sangram Shah.
·
His son, Dalpat, married princess Durgawati.
She was the daughter of Salbahan, the Chandel Rajput raja of
Mahoba.
8. Were the Banjaras important for the
economy?
Answer: The Banjaras were very important for the economy. They
were trader-nomads and controlled trade and commerce. They played an important
role in transporting grain to the city markets. They usually bought grain where
it was cheaply available and carried it to places where it was dearer. From
there, they again reloaded their oxen with anything that could be profitably
sold in other places.
9. In what ways was the history of the Gonds
different from that of the Ahoms? Were there any similarities?
Answer:
The history of the
Gonds was different from that of the Ahoms in the following ways:
1.
Gonds lived in Gondwana while Ahoms
lived in Brahmaputra valley.
2.
Gonds practiced shifting cultivation
while Ahoms did not practice shifting cultivation.
3.
Gond kingdoms were large, Ahom kingdom
was small.
4.
Gond kingdoms were divided into garhs,
Ahoms built a large state.
5.
Gonds did not use fire-arms, Ahoms used
fire-arms for the first time in the history of the subcontinent.
The similarity is that
both were tribes:
1.
The Mughals tried to control the lands
of both at different point of time.
2.
There were changes in society of both
due to the diversification of occupations.
10. Plot the location
of the tribes mentioned in this chapter on a map. For any two, discuss whether
their mode of livelihood was suited to the geography and the environment of the
area where they lived.
Answer: Several tribes
live in different parts of India. See the map given below
These tribes settled temporarily at the places which suited them as per their
need and livelihood. Whenever they found the environment or their mode of
living unfavourable, they migrated to other suitable places.
11. Find out about
present-day government policies towards tribal populations and organise a
discussion about these.
Answer:
Policies about Tribal population
·
Overall upliftment.
·
Land rights.
·
Education.
·
Cultural and social upliftment.
·
Roads, water, industries.
·
Mainstreaming.
·
Enforcement of reservation in government
jobs.
12. Find out more
about present-day nomadic pastoral groups in the sub-continent.
Answer: What animals do
they keep? Which are the areas frequented by these groups? Ans. Present-day nomadic
pastoral groups in the sub-continent are – Gaddi shepherds living in the
western Himalayas, Gujjar Bakarwals, living in Jammu & Kashmir, Banjaras
living in Rajasthan. These nomadic people keep sheep, goats, and camels. They
frequently visit the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and
Rajasthan.
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE
QUESTIONS
1. How did the castes
of entertainers earn their livelihood?
Answer: They earned
their livelihood by performing in different towns and villages.
2. Which tribe was very
influential in Punjab during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries?
[V. Imp.]
Answer: The Khokhar tribe was
very influential in Punjab during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries
3. Name the tribe
which was powerful in the north-west.
Answer: Balochis
4. Name any two tribes
which lived in the extreme South
Answer: Vetars and
Matravers
5. Who were
specialised artisans?
Answer: Smiths,
carpenters, and masons were specialised artisans
6. Who controlled
Garh?
Answer: A Gond clan
usually controlled the Garh
7. What made the
Brahmanas more influential in the Gond Society? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Gond raja
began to grant land to the Brahmanas. This made them influential.
8. Who was Aman Das?
Answer: He was the Gond
raja of Garha Katanga.
9. Who was Durgaivaii?
Answer: She was the
daughter of Salbahan, the Chandel Rajput raja of Mahoba. She got married to
Dalpat, the son of the Gond raja Aman Das.
10. When did the
Mughal forces attack Garha Katanga?
Answer: The Mughal
forces attacked Garha Katangst in 1565.
11. What made Garha
Katanga a rich state? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Garha Katanga
earned huge wealth by trapping and exporting wild elephants to other kingdoms.
This made it a rich state.
12. Name the items
which the Mughals captured by defeating the Goods.
Answer: Precious coins
and elephants.
13. Who introduced new
methods of rice
cultivation?
‘
Answer: The Ahoms
introduced new methods of rice cultivation.
14. When did the
Mughals attack the Ahom kingdom?
Answer: The Mughals
attacked the Ahom kingdom in 1662.
15. What do
present-day historians use to write tribal histories? [V. Imp.]
Answer: They use oral
traditions and rich customs of the tribal people to write their (tribals’)
histories.
Short Answer Type
Questions
1. Mention some
special features of tribal societies. [Imp.]
Answer: Some special
features of tribal societies are :
·
They did not follow the social rules and
rituals which the Brahmanas prescribed.
·
They were not divided into many unequal
classes.
·
Members of the society were united by
kinship bonds.
2. How did the tribal
people earn their livelihood? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The main
occupation of the tribal people was agriculture. But there were also
hunter-gatherers or herders. Most often they combined these activities to make
full use of the natural resources of the area in which they lived. Some tribes
were nomadic moving from one place to another.
A tribal group controlled land and pastures jointly and divided these amongst
household as per its own rules
3. Write a short note
on Bcuyaras’.
Answer: The Banjaras
were important trader nomads. They usually moved in caravan known as tanda. A
tanda contained as many as 6 or 7 hundred persons. They carried their wives and
children along with them. They owned their oxen. They bought grain where it was
cheaply available and carried it to places where it was dearer. From there,
they again reloaded their oxen with anything that could be profitably sold in
other places. The Banjaras did not travel more than 6 or 7 miles a day. They
preferred cool weather. After unloading their oxen, they freed them to graze
4. How did Sultan
Alauddin Khalji and the Mughals use the Bcuyaras?
Answer: Sultan Alauddin
Khalji used the Banjaras to transport grain to the city markets. Under the
Mughals the Banjaras carried grain on their bullocks from different areas and
sold it in towns. They transported food grain for the Mughal army during
military campaigns
5. Write a brief note
on the administrative system of the Gond kingdom. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Gond
Kingdom was divided into garhs. Each garh was controlled by a particular Gond
clan. This was further divided into units of 84 villages called chaurasi. The
chaurasi was subdivided into barhots which were made up of 12 villages each.
6. Write in brief
about Rani DurgawatL
Answer: Rani Durgawati
was married to Dalpat, the son of the Gond raja of Garha Katanga, Aman Das.
Dalpat, however, died early. After his death, Rani Durgawati, being very
capable, began to rule on behalf of her five-year-old son, Bir Narain. She
extended her kingdom veiy soon. In 1565, when the Mughal forces under Asaf Khan
attacked Garha Katanga, she put up a strong resistance. Finally, she was
defeated. But she did not surrender, Instead she preferred to die.
7. Who were the Ahoms?
How did they build a large state? [Imp.]
Answer: The Ahoms were
the tribal people who migrated to the Brahmputra valley from present-day
Myanmar in the 13th century. They created a new state by suppressing the older
political system of the bhuiyans i.e. landlords. During the 16th century, they
annexed the kingdoms of the Chhutiyas in 1523 and of Koch- Hajo in 1581. They
also subjugated many other tribes. In this way, the Ahoms built a large state
and for this they used firearms as early as 1530s.
Long Answer Type
Questions
1. Give a brief
account of the tribal people found in different parts of the subcontinent [V.
Imp.]
Answer: Tribal people
were found in almost every region of the sub-continent. In Punjab, the Khokhar
tribe was influential during the 13th and 14th centuries. Later, the Gakkhars
became more important. In Multan and Sind, the Langahs and Arghuns dominated
extensive regions. The Balochis were another large and powerful tribe in the
north-west. In the western Himalayas, the Gaddi Shepherds lived. The Nagas,
Ahoms and many others lived in the distant north-eastern part of the
subcontinent. In many areas of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand, Chero Chiefdoms
had emerged by the 12th century.
However,
they were subdued by the Mughals. The Mundas and Santals were other important
tribes that lived in these states and also in Orissa and Bengal. The Kolis,
Berads and numerous others lived in the Maharashtra highlands, Karnataka and
Gujarat. Further there were large tribal populations of Koragas, Vetars,
Maravars and many others in South. The Bhils were spread across western and
central India. By the late 16th century many of them had become settled
agriculturists and some even zamindars. Many Bhil clans, nevertheless, remained
hunter-gatherers. The Gonds were found in large numbers across the present-day
states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
2. What do you know
about the Ahom Society? [Imp.]
Answer: Ahom society
was divided into clans or Khels. There were very few castes of artisans, so
artisans in the Ahom areas came from the nearby kingdoms. Kheloften controlled
several villages. The peasant was given land by his village community. Even the
king could not take it away without the community’s consent. The Ahoms
worshipped their own tribal gods. But during the first half of the 17 century
Brahmanas achieved great influence which gave rise to Hinduism.
In
the reign of Sib Singh Hinduism became a predominant religion. However, the
Ahom kings remained stick to their traditional beliefs to some extent even
after adopting Hinduism. Ahom society was very sophisticated. Poets and
scholars were given land grants. Theatre was encouraged
3. How did the nomadic
pastoralists earn their living? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Nomadic
pastoralists kept on moving from place to place with their animals. They lived
on milk and other pastoral products. They also exchanged items like wool, ghee,
etc. with settled agriculturists for grain, cloth, utensils and other products.
They bought and sold these goods as they moved from one place to another,
transporting them on their animals. The Banjaras were trader-nomads who bought
grain where it was cheaply available and carried it to places where it was dearer.
From
there, they again reloaded their oxen with anything that could be profitably
sold in other places. Thus, they played an important role in connecting India
to the outside world. Many pastoral tribes reared and sold animals, such as
cattle and horses, to the wealthy people. Different castes of petty pedlars
travelled from village to village. They made and sold wares like ropes, reeds,
etc. Sometimes mendicants acted as wandering merchants. There were also castes
of entertainers who earned their living by performing in different towns and
villages.
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