Why can portraying pastoralists only as a problem in colonial documents be biased?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: Because such documents were created from the viewpoint of administrative control
The correct answer is A because colonial documents were usually produced by officials whose practical purpose was to classify, regulate, tax, or control populations. Such records may describe mobility as disorder, large herds as a threat, or customary grazing as an administrative difficulty. They can therefore reveal government priorities more clearly than the complete experiences and contributions of pastoralists. This does not mean every statement in a colonial record is false; it means the source must be read critically and compared with other evidence. Option B is wrong because these documents were not generally pastoralists’ autobiographies. Options C and D also ignore the controlling role and interests of the colonial state.
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What is the correct answer to this question?
Because such documents were created from the viewpoint of administrative control
Why is this the correct answer?
The correct answer is A because colonial documents were usually produced by officials whose practical purpose was to classify, regulate, tax, or control populations. Such records may describe mobility as disorder, large herds as a threat, or customary grazing as an administrative difficulty. They can therefore reveal government priorities more clearly than the complete experiences and contributions of pastoralists. This does not mean every statement in a colonial record is false; it means the source must be read critically and compared with other evidence. Option B is wrong because these documents were not generally pastoralists’ autobiographies. Options C and D also ignore the controlling role and interests of the colonial state.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 9 History question. Chapter: Pastoralists in the Modern World. Topic: Colonial Rule and Pastoral Life.
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