Rom Gypsies meet Punjabi Bhangra

By the time of the 3rd World Romani Congress, in 1981, the interaction between Rom/Rrom (ethnic Gypsy) activists and Indian scholars and politicians had reach such a level that people, as Gratton Puxon here, were making positive statements about the relation between Punjabis and the Roma.

This clip from Marre's 1981 documentary film shows the quirky result of this emphasis on Punjab by Gypsy activists. Apparently, some bhangra dancers and a dholi were invited to perform. The way it is presented (here, at least), they seem to be making the argument that this is some kind of ancestral music of the Rom people. They are supposedly "united" by it.

However, most scholars agree that the ancestors of the Roma left the northwest Indian region around 1000 C.E. The limited, harvest-time dance called "bhangra" is not known to have existed for sure until the late 19th century. Though it may have existed in some form earlier, that is irrelevant, since the form effectively died out shortly after 1947 (Partition of Punjab/Independence). New forms of staged Punjabi dance were created from the 1950s that adopted the name "bhangra," and decade by decade it's form changed from then, with new additions. By the 1980s, this stage presentation of folkloric dance, largely newly contrived, had been mobilized for Punjabi nationalism.

In this event, the Rom nationalists have piggybacked on that quality. Yet the notion that what these dancers are doing, saying, wearing, etc. has any resemblance to what the Gypsies' ancestors may have done is ridiculous IMO.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Rom
• Rrom
• Gypsy
• Romani
• world
• congress
• bhangra
• punjabi
• dhol
• dance
• nationalism

[xXxPaulSnakexXx]

i can bee a fool yes man bot i am not i am a roma from usa now if we com from india 1000 yrs ago y do the roma go back 2000 yrs not in or from india an not call indians in bc y b coz we r not org from india an if we see a roma we dont know we say rom or mi ppl bot no roma will say rom 2 a indian so call gypsy y b coz day r guyjos or not r ppl an 2 all u romas an guyjos im not stupid i know mi ppl i know whit i say do u

[hultonclint]

@xXxPaulSnakexXx In what sense do Roma go back 2000 years? Where? They were first documented on the edge of Europe less than 1000 yrs ago, and were gradually noticed more and more spreading through Europe. Where did those people come from? The base of the language is most closely related to New Indo-Aryan languages like Punjabi and Hindi. So, northwestern India had made the most sense. That being said, there is little comparison to MODERN Indian culture, and that is what is being critiqued here.

[OhNoHerWTF]

@hultonclint Also, it would be more logical to suggest that their origin is from the banjara in Rajhistan since their dress is identical & their culture of entertainment etc.

[OhNoHerWTF]

@hultonclint ok fair enough, but if you live where I do in England, even you would see how they earned their reputation across the world, lack of class & education. I'm not racist, I wouldnt have an issue with them if they educated their children & worked instead of relying on taxpayers money to support their 10 children.

Finally jatts average height is 6 ft, cant say I ve seen any of them who look jatt.

Continue what you do if it brings a smile to youre face.

[hultonclint]

@hultonclint cont, pt 3: Nonetheless, Rom in 1981 were desperately seeking an "origin" of their people, and some Punjabis also felt honored to think their distant relatives had spread through the globe. That was the feeling of the time that is being documented here, and which needs to be understood, instead of flying off the handle with racist comments. "Punjabis are forbidden.." LOL

[hultonclint]

@hultonclint cont: Badal the political opportunist and others are being silly in sending the soil, and the Rom delegates are silly to believe the Punjabis who probably told them that bhangra was 'ancient'. You are equally silly to think the actions of some Roms, which you have chosen to focus on in a bigoted way, and which are found among ALL ethnic groups, would reflect on all the people of Punjab in some way that you'd have to deny history just to distance yourself from them. CONT

[hultonclint]

@OhNoHerWTF I am a historian + anthropologist. Read the description on the video. I (too) am critiquing the way they are making the connection -- by using modern Punjabi culture as a comparison. The truth is that, as best anyone can say, Rom people's ancestors did come from NW India (incl. Punjab) -- 1000 yrs ago! So there is a historical connection, but the cultural connection is silly (since this bhangra was made up in 1950s). CONT...

[OhNoHerWTF]

@hultonclint considering you aren't punjabi, why are you concerning yourself? trying to build bridges between people who have no connections, and Badal is probably the most hated man in punjab.

[hultonclint]

@OhNoHerWTF You need a bit more history under your belt to understand what was going on here, and less bigotry in order to see it. I will say one thing you may find interesting: At this same event delegates from India give a jar with soil of Punjab to the Roma delegates. Who sent the soil? Prakash Singh Badal of the Akali Party. I have the magazine that came out then, in which the Chief Minister sent his blessings.

[OhNoHerWTF]

@hultonclint jatt is an ethnic group, I agree there are many tribes in punjab, but I don't like my land being associated with these people, they have no morales, pride, honour, they just breed like they have no brain, just breeding at 12 yrs old, even if they can't afford a house :/ . Also they have mixed with all kinds of ethnic groups now, it would be like saying americans are british. Their women prostitute in central europe, that is FORBIDDEN for all punjabis.