Travelling, as most of the world describes it to be, is a form of rejuvenation and disconnect from the daily life, for most of the world. However, a certain community of people a.k.a ‘nomads’, live their lives as travelers.
“Take the world with you” is a phrase that perfectly describes the nomadic frame of mind in a romanticized way. They live a life of low impact. The one that is sustainable for the present scenario of Earth, considering climate change, pollution, and several other environmental causes are heightened and global issues now. Living a life of low energy consumption, zero waste, and minimalism in a Western capitalist world that’s driven by materialistic desires is commendable. However, nomadism isn’t an acquired lifestyle for many. It’s usually passed down by generations. For example, in India, a tribal community called the Changpas are semi-nomadic. They come from Ladakh in Kashmir.
They’re mainly herders who move from one cold region to the other and set up their lives there. The harsh, cold winters of the Himalayas cuts them off from the world. Their only source of the necessity of water is the Indian Army. Its interesting how they have a cognitive map of the region and can settle in the right place, at the right time. Also, this innate ability of humans to create a sense of comfort for themselves in a completely new and different place is astonishing.
The thing that sets the Changpas apart from the rest is their resource utilization abilities. They create their built environment with materials that are readily available from nature like animal skin, stones, etc. But, haven’t we all come from a time when barter system was prevalent, and this is how life was for our ancestors? The main argument for this being that we’ve all evolved from nomadic roots. So, there is a desire in all of us to go back and relive like the older times. The only difference being that now we have a passport and ornate terminology for people who wander and choose to live a somewhat similar life.
In the modern age, we have the digital nomads. Professional traveler bloggers, publicists, and social media influencers have made a living out of this. There is always an appeal of being the architect of your own life and follow your dreams. However, even though they enjoy the luxuries of travelling across the world and meet new people daily, they’re constantly facing a screen and tiring themselves out. They’re not being as resource efficient as the traditional ones would be either.
Therefore, I’m yet to understand what ‘nomad-ism’ constitutes and who classifies as a nomad?
Varnika's thoughts 