Just came back after a week's stay in Gujarat. I have never thought about my origin. What are my roots?
Happened to meet a 'Romani' (an ethnic community also known as gypsies). He came to marag office because we work with pastoralist and nomadic communities. He was a tall guy who could easily pass as an Indian. Romanis believe that their community originated from a place called Kannauj in UP. I think he said he was from Serbia.
The reason he was here was to find someone who could help him find his 'roots'. His community has gone through change in faith and religion on many occasions in recent history. Still his assumption was to find his connections based on language. He believed if they originated from here there might be communities or people who still use few words which are common or have common roots.
His search took him to Rajasthan. Somebody introduced him to a group of people outside Pushkar temple as gypsies of Rajasthan. He asked them what was their occupation. To his utter dismay he was told ' we are beggars and begging is our occupation.' Of course he found no common words. But he was so so disappointed and sad to hear begging as occupation of the 'gypsies'.
He was not very hopeful. He almost believed he will never find his origin, from where they came!!
Happened to meet a 'Romani' (an ethnic community also known as gypsies). He came to marag office because we work with pastoralist and nomadic communities. He was a tall guy who could easily pass as an Indian. Romanis believe that their community originated from a place called Kannauj in UP. I think he said he was from Serbia.
The reason he was here was to find someone who could help him find his 'roots'. His community has gone through change in faith and religion on many occasions in recent history. Still his assumption was to find his connections based on language. He believed if they originated from here there might be communities or people who still use few words which are common or have common roots.
His search took him to Rajasthan. Somebody introduced him to a group of people outside Pushkar temple as gypsies of Rajasthan. He asked them what was their occupation. To his utter dismay he was told ' we are beggars and begging is our occupation.' Of course he found no common words. But he was so so disappointed and sad to hear begging as occupation of the 'gypsies'.
He was not very hopeful. He almost believed he will never find his origin, from where they came!!
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