Image Courtesy: The Hindu

Rushikesh Gawade

Tracing Lost Pastures: IIT Bombay Student Researcher Uncovers Maharashtra’s
Forgotten Grazing Routes

IIT Bombay’s research scholar, Mr. Rushikesh Gawade, has shed new light on Maharashtra’s forgotten pastoral traditions through a groundbreaking historical study. His research reveals how British colonial land reforms systematically dismantled the region’s expansive, community-managed grazing networks, forcing nomadic shepherds into restricted spaces and reshaping rural livelihoods.

Presenting his findings at the 20th biennial conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mr. Gawade traced the transformation from the flexible, negotiated Makta system to rigid, bureaucratic land governance.

Discover the full story behind this remarkable research journey here: The Hindu

Mr. Gawade’s work highlights the Institute’s dedication to supporting its academic scholars and fostering research that not only deepens historical understanding but also informs pressing social and policy questions today.