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Raikas are the largest group of nomadic pastoralists of India. Each year after the rains, hundreds and thousands of shepherds embark in collective camps on migratory journeys that can span distance of up to 1200 kms and last up to nine months. The present paper is an attempt to study the social structure among Raika. Fieldwork has been done in two villages predominantly inhabitated by Raikas, Raika Ki Dhani and Manpur Bakdi in Pali Sirohi Belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including archaeological fieldwork on Talgar society of the Iron Age in Asia; adaptive strategies among the Rabari pastoralists in India; and review of nomadism in Anatolia.

The Raikas, a camel rearing tribal group living in the Thar desert of Rajasthan has been reported with a very low incidence of diabetes. We analysed the frequency distribution of HLA alleles in this community and compared the same with the non-Raika group living in the same geographic location and also that of the healthy North Indian (NI) population. The data revealed an exceptionally high phenotype frequency of HLA-DRB1*03 in this community (53%) as compared to the non-Raika group (27.73%, p = 7.9E-05) and the NI population (14.6%, p = 7.65E06). Further analysis revealed the occurrence of four major DRB1*03 haplotypes in the Raikas: (i) A*26-B*08-DRB1*03 (AH8.2, 11.76%); (ii) A*24-B*08-DRB1*03 (AH8.3, 8.82%); (iii) A*02-B*08-DRB1*03 (3.78%); (iv) A*01-B*08-DRB1*03 (AH8.1v, 0.84%); all of which occurred with a several fold higher frequency in the Raikas than the other two groups. These haplotypes have been reported to be positively associated with T1D in the NI population. The apparent lack of T1D and/or other autoimmune diseases in the Raikas despite the higher occurrence of known disease associated HLA alleles/haplotypes is intriguing and highlights the quintessential role of the environmental factors, food habits and level of physical activity in the manifestation of T1D. Possible influence of other protection conferring genes located on, as yet undefined chromosomal locations cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raikas are the largest group of nomadic pastoralists of India. Each year after the rains, hundreds and thousands of shepherds embark in collective camps on migratory journeys that can span distance up to 1200 kms, and last up to nine months. The present paper is an attempt to study the reproductive health (family welfare & population control) among Raikas, who though, understand the significance of a small family, but because of various reasons, discussed in the paper, fail to adhere to the modern days Family Planning Practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article gives a brief introduction to the Rabaris of Kutch district, Gujarat, in western India. It then follows the biographical strands of the veilcloth worn by Rabari women (who are known as Rabaran) through its making, use and circulation, exploring the basis of their values and beliefs. Analysis of its trajectory reveals the impact of change on the Rabaris' way of life following the development of agricultural industries in Kutch in the past three to four decades. Previously secure in the pious nature of their vocation as herders, the decline of their form of animal husbandry in the post-colonial era has compelled Rabaris to review their calling; as they renegotiate their identity at individual and group level, in common with the nationalists of the early twentieth century, dress has become a site in which that identity is contested and reconfigured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that how literacy intersects with notions of development is more complex than generally perceived by those who advocate 'literacy' as a development tool. Among the transhumant pastoralist Rabaris of Kutch in Western India, various forms of literacy are increasingly implicated in community development. In a context where Rabaris face the gradual erosion of their livelihood opportunities, literacy for adults is not associated with development; rather Rabaris favour the option of formal schooling and the possibilities it confers for occupational diversification for the next generation. Community governance, meanwhile, is also increasingly shaped by aspects of literacy. Changes to community governance structures have been ushered in by a new generation of literate (but not necessarily schooled) leaders; they use conventions of the wider literate society to lend formal power and authenticity to their work and strongly advocate formal schooling, which combines gaining literacy skills with an enhanced social status. Schooling and literacies emerge as central to Rabaris' aspirations for 'progress' in the contemporary world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the social change among the Rabaris of Kachchh district through their material culture in Gujarat, India. The association of Rabaris with animals, particularly with camels, is evident in the myths of origin. Also, camels are a recurring motif in Rabari textiles. Rabaris asserted that Marwar in Rajasthan is their homeland. Even if they are worshippers of Shiva, they venerate Muslim saints and a number of horsemen heroes of Rajasthani origin.

Demonstrates how the styles of embroidery and dress of Rabari subgroups articulate their culture and history. Implication of the pattern of adopting regional styles for household decorations and retaining an old style for veils; Differences in the portrayal of motifs that articulate concurrent changing attitudes; Categories of embroideries.

Analyzes the relationship between leaders and ordinary shepherds among the raikas, the nomadic shepherds from western India. Shepherds' capacity to impose sanctions; Inquiry into a system of social interactions characterized by conflicting interests; Insights into other social situations structured by principal-agent relationships.

Analyzes the decision-making arrangements that prevail among the Raikas, nomadic shepherds from Western India. Description of the Raikas; Loci of decision-making; Major types of decisions; Types of decisions that require attention during migration; Distribution and organization of decision-making; Implications of the evidence.

This article explicates the logic of decision-making among raika shepherds in western India to set the stage for a simple principal-agent model that I deploy to analyze leader-led relations among the raikas. Using detailed information on strategies followed by the shepherds to control their leader, the paper formalizes significant features of the context in which the raikas earn their subsistence. Information and direct monitoring emerge as the chief variables that allow an equilibrium where the agent (leader) seldom cheats and the principals (shepherds) seldom sanction. The article briefly explores the relevance of the findings to other rural contexts where communities are small, and community members periodically select leaders and interact regularly and closely with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the back cover art of the journal, which displays a rabari-style quilt created by Indian quiltmaker Lachhuben Raja. The author notes that the quilt represents a commentary on the decline of a traditional way of living in Kutch, India due to the development of thermal power projects there. An image of the back cover is also provided.