Whither South Asian Pastoralism? An Introduction

Abstract

In this collection of articles, we attempt to bring together some of the more recent viewpoints on different forms of pastoralism in South Asia. Our objective is to document the enormous variety of adaptations and strategies that pastoralists in South Asia have crafted to address variations in the environmental, social and political risks they confront. Their actions belie the common image of pastoralists as irrational, whimsical and politically passive migrants. Instead, it reveals them as consciously pursuing a variety of sophisticated strategies. The articles in this issue also document precisely how many pastoralists work with states, with markets and as communities as they pursue their livelihoods and organise socio-politically.