SSouth Asia has the world’s largest

nomadic population. In India alone, roughly

seven percent of the population is nomadic

and consists of about 500 different commu-

nities.^1 The Bawarias are one such nomadic

community. According to the Census of

India of 1881 the Bawarias are described as

a ‘hunting community who derive their

name from the word bawar or noose with

which they snare wild animals’. The census

further states that the Bawarias are “much

addicted to crime and thieving comes easily

to them. Their skill in tracking wild animals

is notorious”.

Two laws, one ancient and one more

recent, have severely impacted the liveli-

hoods of the Bawarias. In British India

under the Criminal Tribals Act of 1871, over

200 communities had been declared as

criminals. This was used by the British to

consolidate their rule over certain tribes,

including the Bawarias. The act was

repealed following independence of India

but the stigma attached to such communi-

ties, through the legislation, continues.

Further, in a bid to protect dwindling

wildlife, the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of

1972 declared all hunting as “illegal’ thus

criminalizing the traditional occupation of

the Bawarias.

History, cculture aand cconservation

The BBawarias oof IIndia: ffrom hhunters tto ““green ggards”?

Bahar DDutt

Summary. The Bawarias are a hunting nomadic community found in several states of northern India.
This paper examines the impact of several laws such as the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972), and
the Criminal Tribes Act (1871), now known as the Habitual Offenders Act (1953) on the livelihoods of the
Bawarias. As a result of the ban on hunting the Bawarias have taken up occupations such as chowkidari
(protection of agricultural fields against crop-raiding animals). At a time when human-wildlife conflicts are
many, the Bawarias are providing a valuable service to farmers by protecting agricultural fields from crop-
raiding animals such as wild pigs (Sus scrofa) and nilgai (Bocephalus tragocamelus). This strategy needs
encouragement and recognition at the policy level and by the local forest department which has so far
viewed the Bawarias as a threat to wild animals and biodiversity. Conflict with land-owning farming com-
munity and deep-rooted prejudices against them have however led to tremendous human rights violations
and made it difficult for this nomadic community to practise their occupation or build settlements any-
where. The Bawarias should be recognised as indigenous “green guards” and their traditional knowledge
and skills in dealing with wildlife should be more consciously and effectively employed for conservation.

In the beginning of time when earth was being created God asked everyone to choose any

object which would represent what they would do on earth. The Brahmins (the priestly caste)

selected books, the Kshatriyas (the warrior caste) got swords, and the peasants chose the sick-

le. When it was the turn of the Bawaria, he hid a golden brick underneath his shirt and said to

God ‘I want nothing’. Since then, God got angry and said’ Go you are cursed for the rest of your

lives, you will now live in the forest and will only steal from other people’. Since then the

Bawarias have been living in the forest’.

A story about how the Bawarias were born as told by Dholi Bawaria