About Banjara Community
The Banjara are a community usually described as nomadic people from the northwestern belt of the Indian subcontinent (from Afghanistan to the state of Rajasthan) but now found in other areas of India with significant numbers in Andhra Pradesh (Approx 2.2 Million including Telangana), Karnataka (1.1 Million) and Maharastra(0.9 Million) . They are basically nomadic people from the Indian states of Rajasthan (Now about 0.3 Million), North West, Gujarat, Western Madhya Pradesh (0.4 Million) and Eastern Sindh province of Pakistan. The word "Banjara" is evolved from Prakrit and Hindi and Rajasthani words "Bana/Ban or Vana/Van" meaning Forest or Moorlands and "Chara" meaning 'Movers'. The Banjara are (together with the Domba) sometimes called the "Gypsies of India". The Sanskrit compound-word vana chara, "forest wanderers" was given to them presumably because of their primitive role in the Indian society as forest wood collectors and distributors. Banjaras originally belong to Rajasthan and they were Rajputs who migrated to southern parts of India for trade and agriculture. Many settled down in the southern and central area of the country and slowly loosened contacts with Rajasthan, and their original community. Over a period of time both the communities separated and they adopted the local culture.
While some say Banjara tribes are believed to be descendants of the Roma gypsies of Europe who migrated through the rugged mountains of Afghanistan, to settle down in the deserts of Rajasthan and many other states in India 2,300 years ago, there are not many helpful archaeological findings or written sources when it comes to mapping the path traveled by Romani, or Gypsies.
While some say Banjara tribes are believed to be descendants of the Roma gypsies of Europe who migrated through the rugged mountains of Afghanistan, to settle down in the deserts of Rajasthan and many other states in India 2,300 years ago, there are not many helpful archaeological findings or written sources when it comes to mapping the path traveled by Romani, or Gypsies.
Banjara Women in India | Photo by Tim McLaughlin
By tracking pathogenic genetic variations of the human genome, scientists have traced paths travelled by mankind. Genetic variations linked to both the mitochondrial DNA, inherited maternally, and the Y chromosome, inherited paternally, have proven linguists’ previous theories – Roma people came to Europe from India, mixing with the people of the Middle East and Europeans through time. It was probably because of bad living conditions that the Romani left India and moved closer to Europe. Genetic scientists have now found they began their migration into Europe 1,500 years ago, much earlier than previously thought, from a single population in northern India.
Despite their beginnings the size of the Romani population now rivals that of several countries, including Greece, Portugal, and Belgium. They first arrived through the Balkans and began dispersing outwards from there 900 years ago.
Despite their beginnings the size of the Romani population now rivals that of several countries, including Greece, Portugal, and Belgium. They first arrived through the Balkans and began dispersing outwards from there 900 years ago.
In Europe, Romani have reached the Balkans, Spain and Portugal, as well as Scandinavia and Russia. They first arrived in the UK in 1513. The Romani people lack written historical records on their origins and dispersal. Genome-wide data from 13 Romani groups collected across Europe to confirm an Indian origin for European Romani, consistent with earlier linguistic studies. The study showed that of the current population of India, ethnic groups living in north-western India bear a closer paternal relation to European Romani. The Roma Gypsy and Indian Banjara (Gypsy) have almost 90% of similarities with regard to the language, costumes, lifestyle, and food habits, settlements between Roma Gypsy and Indian Banjara (Gypsy)
Romani Gypsy band "Svenko" from Russia | Photo Courtesy: Nicolay Bessonov
In a recent study, scientists used paternal genetic variations for specifying Romani’s origin, observing the frequency of the haplogroup H1a1a-M82, linked to India.
Nearly 55 million men in India carry the same Y chromosomal haplogroup as the European Romani, which has its roots in Southern India. At the same time, the Northwestern Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes share the most recent common ancestry with European Romani, which can be traced back to 1405 years from now.
A Syrian Gypsy women in Fener, Turkey
Photo by Charles Roffey
A Gypsy/kowli (distortion of kāboli) from Iran (Unverified)
Photo Source: Quora
Photo Source: Quora
Photo by Charles Roffey
This genetic variation is characteristic to India but extremely rare in both East and South-east Asia, as well as in the Middle East and Europe. Based on the distribution map, geneticists estimate that the variation must have come into being in India before the last ice age – about 30,000–40,000 years ago. This hints that the carriers of this variation could be seen as the descendants of a single forefather who once lived in today’s India. The comparison map of the study is based on over 10,000 gene samples from different countries, including data about 214 different ethnic groups living in India.
Thus, the Romani’s original home is to be found in north-western India, though all the Romani themselves have ancient legends about their primeval mould in the lowlands of the Ganges.
At first, linguists had compared different languages and concluded that the Romani’s original home must be in India. This is hinted at by elements seemingly “borrowed” from Dardi language and influences from languages of the Caucasus – Georgian, Ossetian and Armenian – as well as medieval Greek that are found in the Sanskrit-related Romani language. Because of this, it is estimated that the Romani people left India about 1,000-1,200 years ago, passed the Caucasus Mountains from the south and then moved across the southern coast of the Black Sea to Europe, where they branched off to different regions in the 13th century.
Accurately defining the term “Roma” is a challenging, almost formidable task. There is no universally accepted definition, and the term is often used interchangeably with “Rroma”, “Gypsy”, “Traveller”, “Romani”, “Sinti”, “Ashkali”, “Manouches”, “Kalé” and other titles. This is problematic for a number of reasons.
Firstly, incorrect usage creates and perpetuates harmful stereotypes in society. For example, the media have frequently used the term “gypsy” instead of “Gypsy” displaying ignorance of their cultural identity as a recognised ethnic group. Additionally, some Roma people object to the use of the term “Gypsy” altogether perceiving it as derogatory and inaccurately linked to “Egyptian” where it was once believed Roma people had originated from.
Gabori, a caste of Roma Gypsy in Romania | Photo by Erik
Secondly, the Roma are actually considered a subset of the broader ethnic group “Romani” who are thought to be originated in the East Indian region of Punjab and migration from this region began in the twelfth century. The Roma have a shared history and distinct customs, language and tradition but have no ties to a particular piece of land.
Thirdly, the Roma are richly diverse. Even in the UK, the Roma have different nationalities, tribal affiliations, lifestyles, living arrangements and immigration statuses which make it increasingly difficult to speak of a uniform group facing the same problems. For example, some Roma have acquired British nationality whereas others are refugees or asylum seekers attempting to navigate the complicated asylum system of the UK. Similarly, some Roma choose to live a nomadic lifestyle whereas others live in permanent dwellings. Having said this, it is broadly accepted by many Roma people that the Roma community share a common set of values and a common history of persecution and discrimination.
Back Again, The Banjaras in India have been described as an endogamous group of trading nomads who are organized into territorial groups of Pattis, each of which has several classes known as endogamous units. Each clan is organized into several smaller groups called tandas, each comprising six to 20 families. The doctrine of collective responsibility operates among the members of the tanda. Although a family is the producing and consuming unit the tanda is the administrative unit in social economic and political matters. Various families within the tanda are bound by kinship ties which give security to the members and bind them in the rules obligations and expectations towards one another.
The Banjaras are the sturdy, ambitious people and have a light complexion. The Banjara were historically nomadic, keeping cattle, trading salt and transporting goods. Most of these people now have settled down to farming and various types of wage labor. Their habits of living in isolated groups away from other, which was a characteristic of their nomadic days, still persist. Their unique dress, heritage, customs and language distinguish them from the majority population, and they maintain a separate lifestyle. The Banjaras were the most important trader nomads. The Banjaras were basically traders of grain, salt, bamboos, firewood and other essential commodities. They keep moving from place to place in search of livelihood opportunities since they are the marginalized sections of Indian society. India’s caste system has referred to these groups as ‘Shudra’, or the ‘Untouchables’. Their status has been extremely low and the dirtiest work has been delegated to them as a result. Contemporary India is trying to use legislative means to improve their social status.
References:
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0048477
http://blog.ut.ee/where-do-the-european-romani-gypsies-come-from/
http://www.restlessbeings.org/projects/roma-gypsies
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2245032/Gypsies-settled-Europe-1-500-years-ago-didnt-arrive-UK-centuries-ago.html
http://tchecossais.blogspot.com/2010/10/gypsies-tramps-and-thieves.html
Photos:
Thirdly, the Roma are richly diverse. Even in the UK, the Roma have different nationalities, tribal affiliations, lifestyles, living arrangements and immigration statuses which make it increasingly difficult to speak of a uniform group facing the same problems. For example, some Roma have acquired British nationality whereas others are refugees or asylum seekers attempting to navigate the complicated asylum system of the UK. Similarly, some Roma choose to live a nomadic lifestyle whereas others live in permanent dwellings. Having said this, it is broadly accepted by many Roma people that the Roma community share a common set of values and a common history of persecution and discrimination.
Back Again, The Banjaras in India have been described as an endogamous group of trading nomads who are organized into territorial groups of Pattis, each of which has several classes known as endogamous units. Each clan is organized into several smaller groups called tandas, each comprising six to 20 families. The doctrine of collective responsibility operates among the members of the tanda. Although a family is the producing and consuming unit the tanda is the administrative unit in social economic and political matters. Various families within the tanda are bound by kinship ties which give security to the members and bind them in the rules obligations and expectations towards one another.
The Banjaras are the sturdy, ambitious people and have a light complexion. The Banjara were historically nomadic, keeping cattle, trading salt and transporting goods. Most of these people now have settled down to farming and various types of wage labor. Their habits of living in isolated groups away from other, which was a characteristic of their nomadic days, still persist. Their unique dress, heritage, customs and language distinguish them from the majority population, and they maintain a separate lifestyle. The Banjaras were the most important trader nomads. The Banjaras were basically traders of grain, salt, bamboos, firewood and other essential commodities. They keep moving from place to place in search of livelihood opportunities since they are the marginalized sections of Indian society. India’s caste system has referred to these groups as ‘Shudra’, or the ‘Untouchables’. Their status has been extremely low and the dirtiest work has been delegated to them as a result. Contemporary India is trying to use legislative means to improve their social status.
References:
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0048477
http://blog.ut.ee/where-do-the-european-romani-gypsies-come-from/
http://www.restlessbeings.org/projects/roma-gypsies
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2245032/Gypsies-settled-Europe-1-500-years-ago-didnt-arrive-UK-centuries-ago.html
http://tchecossais.blogspot.com/2010/10/gypsies-tramps-and-thieves.html
Photos:
- Banjara Women in India | Photo by Tim McLaughlin | http://tmcl.ca/
- Romani Gypsy band "Svenko" from Russia | Photo Courtesy: Nicolay Bessonov | www.svenko.net
- A Syrian Gypsy women in Fener, Turkey | Photo by Charles Roffey | https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/14638083253/in/photostream/
- Gabori, a caste of Roma Gypsy in Romania | Photo by Erik | http://tchecossais.blogspot.com/2010/10/gypsies-tramps-and-thieves.html
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