Pastoral youth in Kutch are
herding camels again
A Conversation with a Re-Formed Herder
By Bhawna Jaimini with Mahendra Bhanani
“Drink more, camel milk is a health wonder”. Devabhai politely nudged me to drink more camel milk. “Perhaps it is too raw for you city folks, but believe me, boiling the milk will take up half its nutrients.” Devabhai milked his favourite camel in front of us and we all sat down under the sparse shade provided by few gando bawad (Prosipus Juliflora) on the edge of a farm where Devabhai’s camels were browsing.
In retaliation to his city folks comment, I drank two full glasses of milk offered to me. Devabhai looked impressed. As I took out my notepad and pen to start the interview, Devabhai looked around, collected a few dried branches and twigs, and started a small fire. He then took out a vessel and started brewing tea. Before I began to ask questions, he said, “But first tea”.
Devabhai you left herding 15 years ago, became a truck driver and have now returned to camel herding when many herders across the country are abandoning it. Tell us why?
I was tired of being on the move. ‘Driven banke paisa to kamaya par shanti nahi thi. Nahi us paise mein barkat thi.’( I was earning money, there was no peace or growth in my life.) So I decided to come back to my ancestral profession. I started herding sheep and goats as keeping camels was still not profitable.
My father used to herd camels three decades ago but he left as the role of the camel in fields or as a pack animal disappeared. Nobody wanted camels anymore. My father became a labourer on a field where I helped for a couple of years before becoming a driver. However, times have changed. Due to this increased demand for camel milk, we are herding camels again. I alone have about 35 camels and many of the youth of our community are buying camels.
You said that there was no peace in your life as a driver. Why?
Life was very fast and hectic. I was always on the move, driving a huge truck all over Gujarat. I came home only once or twice during a fortnight. Initially, I was thrilled to travel and drive those huge 14 wheeled trucks. However, the initial excitement withered away. I had gained a lot of weight due to my erratic schedule and unhealthy lifestyle. My father taught me to wake at the crack of the dawn, but as a driver, I was doing the opposite.
It must have been tough for you to run behind camels with an overweight body.
Extremely! (Laughs). If these camels walk 20 km, the herder has to walk 50, to keep them walking together. Some naughty ones have a habit of straying away from the herd, so one needs to be constantly vigilant and active. I had forgotten the tricks of the trade, but they were all intact in my blood. Knowledge gained through generations can’t go away by driving a truck for a few years.
Do you ever miss the old fast days?
Not at all. Being a herder is a demanding job and can sometimes be very trying, but I don’t want to do anything else because ‘yahan shanti hai, jo road par nahi thi’. It's like eating simple home-cooked khichdi after eating spicy Punjabi food for months (laughs).
You said that your father was a camel herder so you must have spent your childhood amongst the camels. Do your children accompany you with the herd?
Sometimes they come to play with the baby camels but they don’t travel with the herd. I grew up exposed to life on the move but they go to school every day because it is important for them to get an education today.
The profession was still there in my blood. Knowledge gained through generations can’t go away by driving a truck for a few years.”
But what about the education on camels which I am sure they won’t get in school?
That is why I try my best to expose them as much as I can to herding but I know it isn’t enough. However, I am hopeful that they will grow up and apply the education to advance our traditional livelihood. It is also important for them to study because otherwise they won’t get married. Nobody wants to give their girls to illiterate herders.
So, it's true that herders these days find it difficult to get a bride?
Yes, it is. But I feel its more to do with education than occupation. Everyone wants educated brides and grooms these days, and profession doesn’t matter as long as you are earning enough from it.
Are you thinking of expanding the herd?
Yes, but it all depends on the milk collection. Right now we get about 50 rupees a litre but the collection routine is erratic and needs to be regularised. We can’t make the decision on the expansion of herds until we have a sense of the demand.
