The Van Gujjars, a nomadic community of buffalo herders, have long inhabited the foothills of the Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
For centuries, they, like many other indigenous tribes in India, have lived in close harmony with wild ecosystems, relying on them for their survival. Their traditional practice of transhumance — seasonally migrating with their livestock between grazing grounds — has been a cornerstone of their way of life.
This way of life predates British colonial rule, which sought to map and standardise land ownership, particularly forest resources, to facilitate state control.
It also predates the introduction of strict wildlife conservation policies in India, such as the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which established protected areas for wildlife. Despite their deep-rooted connection to the land, the Van Gujjars now face an uncertain future, as their concept of "home" has become increasingly fragile.
The British, through the Indian Forest Act of 1927, commercialised forests, viewing them as resources to be exploited for economic gain. This 'scientific management of forests' was framed as essential for development, but it came at the cost of displacing those who had lived in and cared for these ecosystems for generations.
Post-independence, conservation laws continued this trend, often alienating the very communities that had historically coexisted with nature.