Vala Kaka Oral History Interview

AR-009-0003

In this oral history interview, Vala Kaka offers a first-person narrative of Rabari pastoral life, recalling childhood memories of setting out with elders on seasonal migrations and learning to interpret landscapes through grass, water availability, and livestock behavior. He describes spiritual connections to the land, rituals, blessings, and a sense of responsibility toward grasslands and animals as integral to herding and identity. The interview documents considerable transformation in grazing patterns over the decades. Vala Kaka explains how government forest demarcations restricted movement and access to lands historically used by pastoralists, leading to increased fines, conflicts, and shrinking migration routes. He reflects on the cultural and livelihood impacts of these changes: weaker inter-household cooperation, reduced livestock numbers, and the younger generation shifting toward education and wage-based work. Throughout, he expresses both pride in pastoral heritage and concern that Rabari identity tied to herding may soon fade.

2025-06-05

The Science of Pastoral Life: Maldhari Oral Histories and Material Culture

Vala Kaka Oral History Interview

Sub-Series 1: The Science of Pastoral Life - Maldhari Oral Histories