Centuries ago, thousands of people migrated from their homeland and travelled to distant and unknown lands. Acceptance was a rare commodity for them; they found themselves wandering in a world that never welcomed them. Neither their homeland nor the regions that they travelled, offered them a lasting home. Their story is a story of resilience, endurance and constant marginalisation.
The Romani migration from their homeland in India to the West is a complex historical event, scholars are unable to pinpoint any one reason as to why they left their home in India. Several different theories try to explain the possible reason behind this migration, the most popular one being the invasion of Ghazni. The eleventh-century invasion of India by Mahmud of Ghazni created an atmosphere of violence and disruption. The chaos caused by these invasions could be the reason why some groups like the Romani people sought refuge elsewhere. The rigid caste hierarchy in ancient India could also have been one reason behind migration; the lives of some people belonging to the marginalised groups in India were so tough that moving to a new place altogether seemed a better option for these people. The Romani people possessed valuable skills like craftsmanship and music which were in demand in some regions, it is possible that some groups migrated to distant areas to find work.
Many people believed that the Romani people belonged to the Northern part of the Indian subcontinent but there is no proper conclusion to this study. The language of the Romani people has close ties to Indo Aryan languages especially the languages spoken in Punjab and Rajasthan, suggesting their origin. Rajasthan, with its presence of traditional crafts like music handicrafts and its connection to nomadic group, has been a major focus of research along with Punjab, considering its role in historical migrations and similarity in the languages spoken in these two regions. It is also important to note that the migration as not abrupt; rather, it took place in different waves over many centuries.
The journey of the Romani people from India to distant lands of central Asia and Europe was not an easy one, it was one filled with hardship, prejudice and marginalisation. The Romani people set on their journey westward where they moved through Persia and then into the Byzantine empire. From here, they dispersed into different parts of Europe.
Their arrival in Europe was met with suspicion and misunderstanding. The culture and traditions of these Romani people were something that was not witnessed by the European populations till now, this suspicion quickly turned into hate where the Romani people were subjected to discrimination and stereotypes. Accusation of witchcraft and theft was common, these stereotypes became common in Europe. Laws were enacted targeting them, restricting their movement and denying them basic human rights.
In Eastern Europe, they were subjected to enslavement. Even in regions where slavery was not actively practiced, they were subjected to persecution. The community was forced to live on the fringes of the city as they were often expelled. This constant fear of displacement and lack of secure housing made it extremely difficult for them to establish stable housing and a sense of belonging. In the Nazi Germany also they had to immense suffering. The Nazis made lists of Romani people, forced them to stop having children and put them in concentration camps. Mass killings occurred in these camps. Despite these atrocities, the Romani people didn’t receive much attention as compared to the holocaust.
The Romani community faced years of enslavement, marginalisation and even genocide, but this did not stop them from carrying and preserving their culture. The language of the Romani community, called as the Romani Chib, is a powerful symbol for their Indian origin and cultural preservation. Some examples to explain this – the word “sister” is called as “bhen” in Hindi and “phen” in Romani, nose is called “naak” in Hindi and “nakh” in Romani, water is called “pani” on Hindi and “pani” in Romani too, house is called as “ghar” in Hindi and “kher” in Romani. These linguistic traces prove how the Romani community managed to preserve their identity and culture in distant lands, but this preservation is not just limited to language but various other facets, too, like music and dance.
The Romani community is known for their vibrant dance and music but most people don’t know its connection with Indian art forms. The very famous dance form of Flamenco is believed to have evolved from the Kathak practiced in North India. Not just Flamenco but other Romani dance forms like Cśardás and Tsigane are also rooted in Indian dance traditions. There are also many similarities in the musical instruments as well. For eg the dhol used in the Indian subcontinent is very similar to the Romani Tambura, the shehnai is similar to the Romani clarinet, and Sarangi is similar to a violin. Music also shows their Indian traces, Hungarian Romani latent songs resemble the Indian thumri while Bulgarian Romani singers use microtonal notes like the Indian raag, but the exchange of art goes both ways like Romani music has also inspired modern Indian music for eg “Jab tak hai jaan “and “mehbooba mehbooba” from sholay,”chaiyya chaiyya” from dil se, and “saaki saaki” from musaafir.
At present, most people in the Romani communities have turned to Christianity and Islam but they still retain many beliefs and customs from their homeland. Romani people strongly believe in the concept of Karma and fate just like Indians, they are also very much engaged in fortune telling practices like tarot, palmistry and numerology similar to Indian practice of jyotish, apart from this their belief in ancestral veneration ceremonies is similar to the concept of Pitru paksha followed in Hinduism but the most fascinating of them all is the idea of ”Kali Sara ”.
Kali Sara is the patron saint of the Romani people, and many scholars and even the Romani people believe that Kali Sara is linked to the goddess Kali of Hinduism. The name Kali comes from a Sanskrit word which means black aligning with the dark complexion of both these figures. Here is why many people feel they are related – Kali in Hinduism is seen as a strong protective figure,e while Kali Sara is also seen as a guardian and a protector. Kali in India is worshipped by nomads and lower caste which is believed to be the origin of the Romani people. The ritual of carrying Kali Sara to the sea and immersing her in water is similar to Indian rituals where gods like Durga and Kali are immersed in water.
The Romani people have preserved their culture and traditions from centuries despite the marginalisation and forced assimilation, but despite of all of this, they continue to be discriminated against all around the world. Most people, including even Indians, don’t even know about them, their stories of hardships and persecution. Their story is a story of resilience which needs to be talked about more. The Romani people have carried their culture despite all the discrimination and marginalisation, but now it's time for us to ensure that their stories are heard and that they receive the respect and dignity that they absolutely deserve.