Catching up : Shepherds in Maharashtra’s changing rural landscape
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DimensionsGawade, Rushikesh (2026) Catching up : Shepherds in Maharashtra’s changing rural landscape. Economic & Political Weekly, 61 (21). ISSN 0012-9976
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Abstract
This paper examines rural change from the perspective of the Dhangar community, a semi-nomadic shepherd caste in Maharashtra. Through two months of fieldwork in a village from Ahmednagar district, participant observation, and interviews, I explore how modern agrarian transitions affect their livelihoods. The expansion of agriculture, especially after a water canal project in the 1970s, reduced pastureland available in this village and led to a decline in shepherding. Many Dhangars have shifted to farming, often selling their herds to buy less fertile land, while others continue shepherding under challenging conditions. Shepherds now rely heavily on private farmlands for grazing, creating power dynamics between them and landowners. They also struggle to access traditional forest grazing lands. While education offers new opportunities, many youth still return to shepherding due to limited job prospects. The Dhangars’ gradual integration into the mainstream “ranks” of village life reflects their broader struggle to “catch up” with societal changes. However, this process remains fraught with challenges and half-fulfilled promises, highlighting the complexities of navigating modernity while retaining traditional practices.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Gawade, Rushikesh |
| Document Language: | Language English |
| Subjects: | Social sciences > Sociology & anthropology > Groups of people > Ethnic and national groups Social sciences > Groups of people > Ethnic and national groups |
| Divisions: | Azim Premji University - Ranchi > School of Development |
| Full Text Status: | Restricted |
| URI: | http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/7765 |
| Publisher URL: | https://doi.org/10.71279/epw.v61i21.42972 |
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