Rajabhai Tramta Oral History Interview

AR-009-0001

Rajabhai Tramta reflects on his life as a Maldhari pastoralist in Chotila, offering a first-person account of herding practices, migration routes, and the ecological rhythms of grassland landscapes. He describes livestock care, selection of grazing areas by season, water access, and the cultural protocols that historically governed shared grazing commons among Rabari families. The interview traces major socio-ecological changes over Rajabhai’s lifetime: shrinking grasslands, enclosures for industry and private farming, reduced access to commons, and the declining economic viability of pastoral livelihoods. Rajabhai speaks critically and emotionally about the younger generation’s reduced interest in pastoralism, noting the loss of cultural identity as well as practical challenges such as school commitments, aspirations for salaried work, and the heavy labor of herding. The narrative focuses on the deep connection between Rabari identity, livestock, and grassland ecosystems, while also documenting the stresses that threaten to end a pastoral way of life. (00:00:00) Birthplace and childhood with livestock, 4 months of migration to Ahmedabad and Surendranagar, Saurashtra

(00:01:11) Life with Camels and Rajabhai’s traditional ecological knowledge about trees that camels feed on

(00:02:16) Rajabhai describes an encounter with a lion

(00:03:18) Describes roles of family members in pastoralism, himself was involved in camel herding during monsoon (00:04:09) Life during migration - uncertain food availability dependent on camel milk and roti, laundry, bathing; describes 4-month long monsoon

(00:05:28) Maldharis looked after each other during migration; describes an instance when a lion hunted 18 goats of a fellow-Maldhari

(00:06:21) Mentions the use of traangdi (a mesh-like holder placed on camel backs to carry essentials of migration) and kaathu (a wooden seat placed on the camel) made of Shisham wood which belonged to his father purchased from a member of the Koli Patel community who also had camels from a village (where currently Rajkot airport is built)

(00:08:25) Describes his father’s belief in giving away milk for free to anyone who needs it - the spirit of Maldhariyat

(00:09:23) Describes waterproof raincoat made of sheep wool

(00:10:17) Describes his father’s knowledge of medicinal plants used to heal wounds caused during migration, offered medicinal herbs to people who needed it for free

(00:11:37) Medicinal plants knowledge for wounds

(00:14:19) No formal education but learnt from nature but made sure his children attended school

2025-06-06

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

Rajabhai Tramta Oral History Interview

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