At a public interaction in Belagavi on Thursday, community elders expressed concern that modern lifestyles, changing climate, and shrinking grazing lands are pulling young shepherds away from their traditional profession.
The discussion followed the screening of Bhed Chal (Herd Walk) — an award-winning documentary on Deccan pastoralism by Ankit Pogula and Harsh Satya — organised by Dakhnii Dairies at the Belgaum Foundry Cluster, Udyambag. Residents from Kadoli, Uchagaon, Chachadi and Amdapur, where the film was shot, also attended.
‘Shepherding is more than an occupation’
Spiritual leader Neelkanth Mama Kurubar warned that the number of sheep and shepherds has dropped drastically.
“Before Independence, Karnataka had around four crore sheep and goats. Now it is just 1.4 crore. Shepherding maintains the balance between soil, water, animals, and humans,” he said, adding that climate change, encroached grasslands and vanishing plant species are making survival harder.
Elders also noted that rural youth now prefer city lifestyles and compare their incomes with other professions, making shepherding seem “less respected.” They stressed the need to protect common lands and revive traditional knowledge.
A film that asks: Why must sheep keep walking?
Filmmaker Pogula said the documentary explores the spiritual and cultural depth of shepherd life.
“The Dharma of the shepherd is to walk, just as water must flow,” he noted. The team spent years travelling with shepherds who often walk over 400 km a season.
Co-director Harsh Satya highlighted unique practices such as using sheep droppings as natural fertiliser and preserving native breeds. The Balu Mama shrines on the Karnataka–Maharashtra border currently rear 40,000 native-breed sheep, offering valuable lessons for conservation.
Appreciation for the community and filmmakers
SP Bheemashankar S. Guled praised the film for capturing the simplicity and hard work of the shepherding community. He said such stories remind city dwellers of their rural roots.
The event also showcased a wool handicrafts training centre run by Dakhnii Dairies, aimed at empowering women with modern marketing skills.
The filmmakers and community leaders were felicitated in the presence of environmentalists, industrialists, and social organisations.