\SAMVAD श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Margshirsha Shukla 9, Vik. Samvat 2075 Yugabda 5120: 16 December 2018
1. Vivah Panchmi festival in Nepal: Vivah Panchami is a festival celebrating the wedding of Rama and Sita. It is observed on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of moon in the Agrahayana month as per Mithila Calendar. The day is observed as Vivah Utsav of Sita and Rama in temples and sacred places associated with Sri Rama in Mithila region of Bharat and Nepal. It is said that Bhagwan Rama married Devi Sita on Vivah Panchami. The festival is observed in Janakpur every year to mark the occasion. The festival, this year was observed on December 12 in which Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also participated.
Nepal's Culture Minister Rabindra Prasad Adhikari, Governor and Chief Minister of Province 2, Bharatiya Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, Sadhus and other dignitaries also attended Vivah Panchami celebrations at famous Rangbhoomi in Barahbigha ground. -GoTop
2. we want a law for ram mandir —viRat dharma sabha: Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi, Sarkaryavah Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) asked the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to fulfill its promise of constructing a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya and demanded the enactment of a legislation, if need be, to facilitate the construction. Lakhs of people gathered at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on December 10 for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) rally to press for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. “BJP had passed a resolution in Palampur that ‘Ram Mandir Wahin Banayenge’. Now the time has come to respect that resolution,” Joshi said in presence of lakhs of Rambhaktas, saints and religious gurus.
There was only one demand of all the Rambhaktas— Kendra Sarkar must enact a law for the temple in the winter session of Parliament itself. VHP president Justice (retd) Shri Vishnu Sadashiv Kokaje said the Ram Temple is not an election issue but the issue of self-respect. There cannot be an unending wait for the court verdict. Hence, the Parliament should enact a law respecting the sentiments of the people. Working president of VHP Shri Alok Kumar said we are reminding the Government of its duty towards the Rambhkatas before the winter session of Parliament. Vice president of VHP Shri Champat Rai said we want temple through law. Hence, the government and the court should respect the sentiments of the country. He said in clear terms that the division of the temple land is unacceptable. When the High Court has proved that there existed a temple there, the Muslims should withdraw their case. Vinay Arya from Arya Samaj, Mahamandaleshwar Shri Naval Kishore Das, Swami Anubhutanand Maharaj, Sadhwi Mahant Narayan Giri Maharaj, Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shashwatanand Maharaj, Swami Vivekananda Saraswati, Shri Dipankar Maharaj, Namdhari Sant Shri Dilip Singh, Jain Muni Shri Lokesh Maharaj and many other saints also addressed the gathering. -GoTop
3. bharat should have been declared a Hindu country: Meghalaya judge: Nobody should try to make Bharat another Islamic country and the National Register of Citizens was “defective as many foreigners become Bharatiyas and original Bharatiyas are left out which is very sad”, are some among the many observations made by Meghalaya high court judge Justice S R Sen in a judgment on deciding the domicile of a resident of the state. In the judgment delivered on December 10, Justice Sen said that Bharat was one of the largest kingdoms of the world, which was ruled by Hindu kings but the “Mughal came to Bharat and captured the different parts” of the country. The judge further went on to note that as Pakistan had declared themselves an Islamic nation after Independence and that Bharat should also have been declared a Hindu nation. “Even today, in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos are tortured and they have no place to go and those Hindus who entered Bharat during partition are still considered as foreigners, which in my understanding is highly illogical, illegal and against the principle of natural justice,” the judge said in the judgment. In his judgment, Justice Sen also requested the Pradhan Mantri, along with other members of the Parliament, to bring a law that would allow Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos who had come from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh to live in the country and be given citizenship without any question or production of any documents. -GoTop
4. Knowing Arunachal with indigenous perspective: “Some people are trying to dilute our cultural heritage on the basis of language, culture, tradition, ethnicity, belief and faith system. It is time to revisit the cultural roots of great nation,” said national convener or Prajna Pravah J Janadakumar while delivering the keynote address of the inaugural session of the two day Gyan Sangam on November 24. The two-day event titled ‘Arunachal: Known to Unknown” was organized by intellectual Forum of North East with the central theme of knowing Arunachal Pradesh from indigenous perspective. The Sangam aimed at developing intellectual knowledge which is adequate enough to create indigenous narratives through discussions in the disciplines of Language and Literature, Worldview and Cosmology, Culture, Social System and Ethics, Figures of Historial importance Women, Indic Culture, Story of Struggles, and Science and Technology. -GoTop
5. Mahakavi Subramania Bharatiyar ignited resurgence in Tamil literature: UPRashtrapati: UpaRashtrapati M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Mahakavi Subramania Bharatiyar ignited resurgence in Tamil literature and he drew inspiration from ancient sources of Bharatiya culture. He was addressing the gathering at an event to pay tributes to the great Tamil Poet, Subramania Bharatiyar on his Birth Anniversary, in New Delhi on December 11. The Minister of State for Finance and Shipping, P. Radhakrishnan and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
UpaRashtrapatiji said that Thiru Bharatiyar left behind an extraordinary legacy of poetry and prose writings and his works gave form and vitality to the present day Tamil literature. -GoTop
6. Muslim nations must learn about religion from bharat: Dalai Lama: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on December 4 said Muslim countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Syria should learn about religion from Bharat so that there is peace in the world."There are various religions and traditions in Bharat having population of over 125 crore. There is coordination among all the religions here and due to non-violence principle, modern Bharat is developing," the Dalai Lama told reporters during a brief interaction in Farrukhabad. -GoTop
7. Mehbooba Mufti appeals to PM Modi to open Sharada Peeth pilgrimage: With Bharat and Pakistan laying foundation for Kartarpur corridor enabling Sikh pilgrims to seek blessings in the gurudwara; People’s Democratic Party leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on December 1 wrote to Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi regarding the opening of Sharada Peeth, a revered temple across the Line of Control for Kashmiri Pandits. The leader appealed to the Pradhan Mantri to initiate the process of opening the Sharada Peeth pilgrimage on the lines of Kartarpur corridor. Referring to the ancient temple ‘the Sharda Peeth’ that has now shackled into ruins. It was in the 7th Century A.D, a Chinese Buddhist Monk- Xuanzang visited this important seat of learning. On seeing the dilapidated condition of the temple, Swamy Vivekananda said "Had I lived at that time of invasion, I would not have allowed them to destroy the temple" immediately he heard the voice that “who are you to protect me? Protecting the protector?" -GoTop
8. Bharat will retain its position as the world's top recipient of remittances this year: Bharat will retain its position as the world's top recipient of remittances this year with its diaspora sending a whopping USD 80 billion back home, the World Bank said in a report on December 8. Bharat has retained its top spot on remittances, according to the latest edition of the World Bank's Migration and Development Brief. The Bank estimates that officially-recorded remittances to developing countries will increase by 10.8 per cent to reach USD 528 billion in 2018. This new record level follows a robust growth of 7.8 per cent in 2017. -GoTop
9. Hindu American Foundation Announces Launch of “I Am Hindu American” Campaign: The Hindu American Foundation launched a new campaign – I Am Hindu American – on December 8 to improve awareness of the Hindu religion and Hindu Americans. The multi-platform initiative includes a social-media campaign, a 30-second PSA (access through link below), and a companion website to provide valuable resources about Hinduism and Hindu Americans: www.IAmHinduAmerican.org. In collaboration with more than 300 community partners around the country, the PSA is being distributed through social media networks nationwide to boost awareness and clarify common stereotypes and misunderstandings about Hinduism. The platform will be interactive, encouraging Hindu Americans to upload a photo of themselves and share how Hinduism inspires them in their everyday lives.
“Hinduism is the world’s oldest living religion, a global and universal religion with adherents living on every continent and are a part of the American fabric. Hinduism is no longer confined to Indians, and like Buddhism has been embraced by people from many cultures,” says Dena Merriam, Hindu American and leader in interfaith movement. -GoTop
10. Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrated on Capitol Hill: As part of the two-year celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Embassy of Bharat in Washington, D.C., along with several Bharatiya American community organizations, held an event on Capitol Hill Nov. 27, to celebrate 150 years of the Bharatiya leader. The event was well-attended by members of Congress, Congressional staff, Bharatiya American community members and representatives from the media. Ami Bera, who was reelected for the fourth consecutive term this month, said the message of peace and non-violence of Mahatma Gandhi is more relevant today than ever. Other leaders from several Bharatiya American community organizations and member of Congress addressed the gathering, including, Ambassador Navtej Sarna, David Schweikert, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Dr. Bharat Barai, Srimati Karuna from the Gandhi Memorial Center, Amy Hariani of the U.S.-India Business Council, Bhupesh Mehta from the Jain International Trade Organization, Nissim Reuben, assistant director at the American Jewish Committee; and Mansi Patel from Indiaspora. -GoTop
11. Hindus welcome naming crater on Pluto’s largest moon Charon after Revati: The International Astronomical Union (IAU), the internationally recognized authority for naming celestial bodies and their surface features, recently approved the name of Revati Crater on Charon (one of the larger bodies in the Kuiper Belt with a wealth of geological features), which was proposed by NASA’s New Horizons team. In Hinduism, Revati is wife of Balabhadrarama, elder brother of Lord Krishna; and is also one of the 27 stars mentioned in Mahabharata. -GoTop
12. World’s first in-human tele-robotic coronary intervention performed in Gujarat: In a major feat in the coronary intervention technology, Ahmedabad-based interventional cardiologist, Dr Tejas Patel conducted the world’s first in-human (FIH) tele-robotic coronary intervention from Swaminarayan Aksharddham temple in Gandhinagar. Sitting at a distance of roughly 32 kilometers from catheterization lab of the Apex Heart Institute (AHI) in Ahmedabad, Dr Patel performed the world’s first Percutareous Coronary Intervention (PCI) on a patient admitted at the AHI. The success paves the way for large-scale, long-distance tele-robotic platforms across the globe. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and saints from the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) witnessed the events from Gandhinagar. -GoTop
13. bharatiya-origin lawyer is SOUTH AFRICA’s top prosecutor: Prominent Bhartiya-origin lawyer Shamila Batohi has been appointed to head South Africa’s prosecuting authority, the first woman to head the agency facing criticism for its handling of the investigations against former president Jacob Zuma over corruption charges. Batohi will start her new role as the National Director of Public Prosecutions in February 2019. -GoTop
14. First Bharatiya Born Hindu woman to enter Upper House in Victoria Parliament: Kaushalya Vaghela won Victorian State Election for an Upper House seat from Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. She contested elections from Australian Labor Party. She is the first Bharatiya born Hindu woman to become Member of Legislative council in any Australian state. Earlier, she was adviser to the Minister of Multicultural Affairs - Hon Robin Scott and acted as a bridge between community and the minister. She helped Indian diaspora and their organizations in resolving their issues and she also helped to get all possible government support. -GoTop
15. After Bill Gates, Ruskin Bond Praises Swachh Bharat Mission: Author Ruskin Bond, while speaking at the inauguration of this year’s edition of Tata Steel Jharkhand Literary Meet (JLM) on December 8 said that the country has become much cleaner after the Swachh Bharat initiative was launched. He also added that certain old habits are difficult to get rid of, but if issues are addressed properly, it can be resolved. “Due to the Modi government’s Swachchta Abhiyan different cities have become cleaner than earlier. However, the problem is that the people return to their old habits and it would take time to change that,” he said when he was in Jamshedpur on 7 December. He praised both Jamshedpur and Ranchi for keeping the city clean and beautiful. -GoTop
16. Bharatiya American Chosen Vice Mayor of Fremont: In Fremont, California., a city in the San Francisco Bay Area with a large Bharatiya American community. Raj Salwan, who was elected to the Fremont City Council in 2016, Nov. 20 was named the vice mayor of the city. Salwan, who also served a term on the council from January 2013 to December 2014 was selected to the post unanimously by the sitting City Council. Salwan grew up in Fremont. He attended Vallejo Mill Elementary School and walked to school from the one-bedroom apartment where his father, mother, and two siblings resided.
17. First bharatiya American Mayor of Anaheim; Takes Oath on Guru Granth Sahib: “I immigrated to this great country 44 years ago from India, with little more to my name than the hopes and dreams I brought with me. To now be sworn into office as the 46th mayor of this large, vibrant city is proof the American Dream is alive and well in Anaheim,” said Harry Sidhu on December 4 after being inaugurated as the mayor of Anaheim, California. Joining Sidhu on stage for administration of the oath of office by Orange County Superior Court Judge Megan Wagner were his wife Gin, son Rohan and Sikh priest Jaswant Singh Jiera of the Riverside Gurdwara-Sikh Temple Riverside, holding the revered Guru Granth Sahib scripture, upon which Sidhu took the oath. Also attending were hundreds of longtime Bharatiya American community supporters who upon completion of the oath administration shouted out the Sikh slogan of victory and exultation, “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!” -GoTop
18. Rijiju asks bharatiya diaspora youths to be part of country's growth: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on December 8 asked the youths of Bharatiya diaspora to be part of Bharat’s growth story and become ambassadors to spread the message of development. He was interacting with a group of 40 Bharatiya-origin youths from eight countries—Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Myanmar, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago in New Delhi. "I urge you to give feedback to the Government through voluntarily sparing time by sharing your thoughts, experience, knowledge, and technology and to suggest what steps the government of Bharat should take to improve the environment and help play a role in building a new Bharat," he said. The touring group organized by Bharatiya Governemnt consisted 40 students and young professionals of Bharatiya diaspora in the age group of 18 to 30. -GoTop
19. Ash Kalra-led Delegation in bharat Stops in New Delhi, Visits Swaminarayan Akshardham: A California state Legislature delegation led by the first Bharatiya American elected into the legislature in the state, Ash Kalra, an assembly man from the 27th District, visited New Delhi on December 7 and touched base with Swaminarayan Akshardham. Kalra, along with other Assembly members Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Richard Bloom, Sharon Quirk-Silva, Eloise Gomez Reyes and Mark Stone, was greeted in a traditional manner by senior sadhus and volunteers of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The delegation offered its respects at the Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir and performed abhishek, the ceremonial pouring of sanctified water from 151 holy rivers, lakes and ponds across Bharat on the sacred image of Shri Neelkanth Varni. -GoTop
20. bharat’s first private satellite launched: At the stroke of midnight on December 3, Elon Musk-led US space agency Space X launched Bharat’s first privately built satellite ExseedSAT 1 along with 63 other satellites from 17 countries. The mini communication satellite weighing just a kg with double the size of a Rubik’s cube (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm) is made up of aluminum alloy. The satellite, which is the brainchild of a Mumbai-based startup Exseed Space to serve the amateur radio community, was built at a cost of Rs 2 crore in 18th months with a lifespan of five years. It has paved the way for private-funded space missions. -GoTop
21. Travancore of Bharat: The First Asian Kingdom to Defeat a European Colonial Power: In 1741, Travancore scripted a glorious chapter in world history, becoming the first Asian Kingdom to defeat a European Colonial Power, when the formidable Travancore Nair Force of Maharaja Marthanda Varma categorically defeated the expansionist Dutch colonial force in the famous ‘Battle of Colachel’. Marthanda Varma ascended to the throne in 1729 as the king of Venad chiefdom (that later became Travancore), amidst furious internal feuds spearheaded by the powerful ‘Thampis and Ettuveettil Nairs’ (eight prominent Nair aristocratic families that wielded power during that time). In the words of the noted historian, Professor A. Sreedhara Menon, the Battle of Colachel was “A disaster of the first magnitude for the Dutch, the battle of Colachel shattered for all time their dream of the conquest of Kerala.” After twenty years of his rule, Marthanda Varma, in a historic decision known as 'Thrippadi Danam' surrendered his kingdom and all powers at the feet of God Maha Vishnu, Sri Padmanabha Swamy. Passing on all powers to God, he declared himself successor as ‘Padmanabha Dasa’ i.e. Servant of God. -GoTop
22. RSS relief work for Gaja cyclone victims: An IAS officer leads rescue team to Tamil Nadu’s hamlets left inaccessible by November 15 cyclone GAJA; Johny Tom Varghese is the Additional Director of Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department who was appointed as Nodal officer of Nagapattinam, it is in such precarious conditions as the onslaught of cyclone GAJA that the involvement of bureaucrats plays a critical role and their expertise in making quick decisions, ensuring timely actions comes into the fore. He is one such person who truly pulled all the stops in this regard. The cyclone hit population too, in places, spontaneously repaired roads to enable relief to be rushed to worst hit spots unhindered. Systematic and timely relief work was rendered by the RSS swayamsevaks and Seva Bharati workers. Over 600 of them were active from day one. The six major Seva Bharati relief camps spread across worst hit districts were pivotal in routing men and material from all over the state to ground zero. Seva Bharati, Dakshin Tamil Nadu appealed for help to intensify the relief work. -GoTop
23. Flash Floods in Trinidad and Tobago – Sewa International Pitches In: Heavy October rains battered different parts of Trinidad and Tobago causing river banks to breach, resulting in flash floods. As part of rescue and relief efforts, Sewa’s local partner organization Sewa International TT (Sewa TT), distributed 13,000 meals, cleaning supplies, and other emergency aid to flood victims in North, East and Central Trinidad locations of Caroni, St. Helena, Bamboo, St. Augustine, La Horquetta, Sangre Grande, Mayaro, Oropune, Madras Road, and Warren. About 140 people benefitted from a medical camp set up for screening of water borne
diseases.
In the aftermath of hurricane Florence that hit North and South Carolina and Virginia, Sewa Research Triangle Park (RTP) chapter volunteers, in partnership with United Methodist Church and North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) took part in rehabilitation work. Under the guidance of four certified Sewa team leaders --Kiran Krishna, Shekar Joshi, Radhika Kiran and Anant Deo -- trained in various aspects of early response to disasters, twelve Sewa volunteers set out to work on a damaged home. While one team removed damaged flooring and walls, another team worked on the damaged roof. -GoTop
24. SEWA INTERNATIONAL BHARAT LAUNCHES MOBILE MEDICAL VAN 'SEWA AROGYAM': Sewa International Bharat recently launched a Mobile Medical Van named Sewa Arogyam in Uttarakhand. The van is equipped with modern medical facilities like Pathology lab, X-Ray, ECG etc. It is providing quality health care to the needy people. The event was graced by Hon'ble Governor of Uttarakhand, Smt. Baby Rani Maurya ji. She inaugurated the Mobile Medical van and lauded Sewa's efforts over the years in the rehabilitation of the affected local population post 2013 tragedy. The event also witnessed participation of the young and old alike. Various activities and cultural functions were organized by children depicting the local tradition and folklore of the region. -GoTop
25. BRO to carve world’s first glaciated motorable road in Ladakh: A team of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) is constructing the world’s first glaciated motorable road in Ladakh. Being constructed at an altitude of over 17,800 feet, the road from Sasoma to Saser La will be a vital link paved in a region which is mostly cut-off during the severe winter months. A few months ago, the BRO built a 35 km bridge that leads to Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield. -GoTop
26. Over 400 Attend Akshay Patra’s Los Angeles Diwali Gala, $500,000 Raised for Mumbai Kitchen: The Los Angeles Chapter of the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA hosted an evening of festivity to celebrate Diwali and kick off the holiday season November 17 at its annual fundraising gala held at in Garden Grove, Calif. About 400 philanthropic leaders, business executives, socially conscious individuals and youth ambassadors were present at the event.
As a spontaneous gesture of support, Manu Shah, Jasvant Modi and Mahesh Wadher pledged to fund the upcoming Mumbai Kitchen for $500,000.
Akshaya Patra’s mission that “no child should be deprived of an education due to hunger” is the largest NGO-managed mid-day meal program in the world, according to Time magazine. -GoTop
27. SHRI VISHWA NIKENTAN: Pravas: Dr Ram Vaidya , sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag left Bharat for pravas to Italy. Shyam Parande, Secretary Sewa International will visit Malaysia.
Visitors: Avneesh Sood - UK, Nandlal Chand - Myanmar, Nadesan - SriLanka
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything. – Swami Vivekananda -GoTop
JAI SHREE RAM
ROMANIS: THE FIRST INDIAN DIASPORA
ADITE BANERJIE
There is now enough anthropological and ethnological research evidence about early groups of migrants from India to foreign shores
In ancient times, “crossing the ocean” or travelling to distant lands was tantamount to exile or death. However, archaeological evidence and travellers’ accounts combined with the work of historians have established that there was no dearth of Indian adventurers, artisans, craftsmen and traders who traversed the globe. Noted historian R.C. Majumdar stated “there is enough evidence to show that the people of Sindhu Valley carried on trade… with Sumer and the centres of culture in Western Asia, Egypt and Crete”. Hungarian scholar Aurel Stein (1862-1943) observed: “The vast extent of Indian cultural influences from Central Asia in the North to tropical Indonesia in the South and from the Borderlands of Persia to China and Japan has shown that ancient India was a radiating centre of civilisation.”
There is now enough anthropological and ethnological research evidence about early groups of migrants from India to foreign shores. And the status of the first ever Indian diaspora proudly belongs to the Rroms or Rromanis (also popularly known as gypsies, the world over). Originally from northern India, these people are believed to have migrated from Kannauj to Persian Khorasan roughly around 1014-1018, intermarrying and intermixing, before moving westwards into territories occupied by the Ottoman and Byzantine empires and finally into Europe at the beginning of the 14th century.
To commemorate the millennium year of the “Great Departure” from the motherland, the Antar Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad (ARSP) organised a four-day International Roma Conference in New Delhi, Lucknow and Kannauj. On the occasion, Dr Shashibala, Indologist and joint secretary of ARSP, remarked: “Most of Indian history has been told from a colonial perspective or is based on research done by Europeans. The migration of the Rroms is a page of our history that we have forgotten and it’s time to resurrect it.”
Interestingly, the first Indian academician to have written about the Rroms was Dr Raghuveera who encountered them during his travels in Europe in 1928. He was intrigued by the cultural similarities, the presence of Sanskrit/Hindi words in Rromani vocabulary as well as social practices that bore a striking similarity with that of Indians. Chaman Lal, a Buddhist monk and researcher, studied the Rroms and authored Gipsies: Forgotten Children of India. Linguist Veer Rajendra Rishi, director of the Indian Institute of Rromani Studies in Chandigarh, also carried out extensive research into Rromani language and authored the Rromani-Punjabi-English dictionary.
Marcel Courthiade, linguist and professor of Rromani Language and Culture at the Paris-based INALCO University says, “Rroms are people who do not know boundaries and they are an international community in the truest sense of the term.”
Despite their large presence in Europe — there are currently an estimated 15 million Rroms — they have consistently evaded the radars of academics and avoided public scrutiny. In a way, history has conspired to keep them a community of “outsiders” within the societies that they reside. When they were first spotted in Northern Europe in the early 1400s, they were believed to be spies for the Turks, because of their dark skin and hair. Social prejudices, combined with the distinct cultural practices of the Rroms further alienated them from the mainstream in the countries they resided. Over the centuries these culminated into a pathological suspicion of Rroms which has survived until the present day.
The first recorded anti-Rrom laws were issued in Germany in 1416 when they were accused of being spies and “bringing the plague into Europe”. In 1566, the German authorities had issued orders of “expulsion and extermination” of all gypsies. By 1876, the community was branded as a “criminal race” and the Rroms were officially termed as “lives unworthy of life”. The gypsy phobia exacerbated to its peak during the Third Reich, when along with Jews the Rroms were targeted for extermination. In January 1940, 250 Rrom children were used as “guinea pigs” for testing of gas in Hitler’s concentration camps, ultimately leading to the genocide of 500,000 Rroms — a fact that rarely finds mention in the brutal history of the Holocaust.
During the 1990s’ ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, the Rroms were again a soft target. Ian Hancock, professor of Romani Studies, University of Texas, says: “Non-ethnic people were being kicked out. If you were a Serbian, you had no place in Bosnia, and vice-versa. But if you were a Rrom you had no place to go.”
It’s not surprising then that having faced a thousand years of prejudice and persecution, the Rroms continue to be secretive about their identity as a community. Known to be artisans, craftsmen and entertainers, many of them have scaled great heights of success — including legendary actor-filmmaker Charlie Chaplin, Elvis Presley, Django Reinhardt, Michael Caine, among others — but as a group they continue to face tremendous odds. Recalling her own experience, Dr Shashibala says: “Even today, the average Rrom is treated with suspicion. When I visited England, I wanted to visit the Rrom colonies for research purposes but I was discouraged from doing so.”
Staying away from the mainstream has, ironically, also helped them to preserve their unique identity and culture. It’s remarkable that a thousand years since their migration from Kannauj, their language resonates with words that their forefathers spoke. They continue to practise the rituals of their ancestors, and the discrimination they faced has only helped to preserve their cultural heritage.
It’s only fitting that there should be an acknowledgement of this strong bond from the Indian government. Prof Courthiade says: “Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had welcomed the Rroms with warmth and love. Several delegations of Rroms have since visited India.” He is hopeful that with the support of the present government, the Rroms will be acknowledged not merely as “forgotten children” but as cultural ambassadors of India. -- The writer is a journalist-turned-screenwriter and published romance author based in New Delhi (THE ASIAN AGE, Dec 12, 2018).
Shri Vishwa Niketan www.shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com vishwav@bol.net.in
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