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ON
MARKING APRIL 8TH - WORLD ROMA DAY
International Research Foundation
On Sunday, April 8th, 2018, Professor of International Roma Cultural University in New
Delhi, Dr. Richa Singh opened April 8th - World Roma Day at 12 o'clock, after the Indian
state anthem ''Jana Gana Mana'' and Romani anthem ''Djelem, djelem''.
1. Indian Anthem ''Jana Gana Mana'' and Romani Anthem ''Djelem, djelem'';
2. Word of introduction;
3. Presentations;
4. Performance of Roma sufferings during World War II;
5. Certificate awarding.
RICHA SINGH, regular professor at Open University IGNOU in New Delhi (India) and
Deputy President at Institute for European Roma Studies and Research on Crimes
against Humanity and International Law
Honorable guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear colleagues, my
dear students,
The Roma, as our brothers in the scattering, are for the first time in this century in a historical
situation, a truly historical situation in which their collective destiny is decided.
The priority task that comes before the new democratic authorities in Europe and other
continents, is to solve the accumulated basic living problems of the population, the necessity
of a quicker revival of the economy and its simultaneous transition in the spirit of European
trends, as well as the reconstruction of existing institutions in accordance with the democratic
principles of the rule of law. At the same time, I would like to point out that the Roma are
enthusiastically supporting the arrangement of the international position of the country which
they live in and its gradual inclusion in European integration.
We, in our great state of India, nurture and respect national and religious differences, we are
committed to respecting the human rights of all citizens, and eliminating all forms of
discrimination. You will agree that this is a good ambience or model for improving the
position of Roma in countries they live in, across Europe.
In line with such tradition and practice, as well as the Millennium Development Goals of the
United Nations, India will pay due attention to the Roma. Even more, because it is about one
of the most vulnerable layers of society.
Today, in many Constitutions of the countries of Southeastern and Western Europe, the status
of a national minority has not been determined by the Roma, thereby depriving them of their
political and national rights that belong to them, sociologically speaking.
Roma have the right to solve their status in the countries of Southeastern and Western Europe
where they want and strive to maintain and promote good and friendly relations and
cooperation with the people of the existing states and their national institutions, as well as
with all other citizens.
In order to create conditions for their biological survival and overall development and
preservation of national identity, Roma people have the right to establish and develop their
national, cultural, religious, educational, scientific, economic, financial, political and other
institutions, associations, institutes and organizations, and their funding from the state budget.
Southeast Europe is a specific blend of different nations, cultures, religions and languages.
Throughout its entire history, it was a place of turbulent events and wars, which led to
unification and separation. Only in the twentieth century, the two Balkan, two World and
several local wars in recent times, confirm, in a well-known thesis, that "the Balkan produces
more history than it can handle."
The social position of Roma throughout Europe is even worse today than the position of the
rest of the population. According to the 1995 European Committee on Migration Report on
the Status of Roma in Europe: Roma are disadvantaged in almost every field: education,
employment, health, housing and participation in public life. "Also, the human rights of Roma
are exposed to permanent violations. Especially severe cases of violence against Roma by
extremist and pro-fascist groups, such as skinheads. On the other hand, state authorities,
especially in Southeast Europe, are often tolerant to violations of Roma rights. "
I want to inform you that today our Research Foundation will sign an Agreement on mutual
and technical cooperation with the Institute for European Roma Studies and Research on
Crimes against Humanity and International Law.
The goal of the new strategy programme of the Institute for European Roma Studies and
Research on Crimes against Humanity and International Law and the Research Foundation is
the inclusion of our people in the European Community in the fastest real time. We want
European structures and standards to become part of the Roma people, and that in the
countries where Roma live, their national identity and culture to be preserved through the
learning and cultivation of the mother tongue; to fight discrimination, xenophobia,
segregation, chauvinism and primitive nationalism; to provide assistance to elderly, disabled
and disadvantaged persons, as well as to assist women in the realization of human rights; we
should organize lectures, round table discussions, study tours in order to promote and inform
the public about effective approaches in resolving conflicts; to engage in the publication of
different works and professional literature; to conduct dialogue on the spot; to participate in
the development of the market economy and protection of private property; to fight for social
justice, social solidarity, which is a state guarantee, as well as for the protection of
marginalized groups. Ladies and gentlemen, that would be our strategy today at the global
level.
Honorable guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear colleagues, my dear
students,
All of these constitutive elements or factors of culture are found in Roma as well. Given the
origin, the culture of Roma belongs to the Indian culture. Up to this day, the Roma have
preserved a number of elements that unambiguously speak of their cultural and ethnic origin
and identity.
Bearing in mind the fate of persecution of this nation world-wide, regardless of the level of
social and cultural development, order and ideology of the countries, it can be said that this
type of culture has proved to be very functional. This culture has suffered the influence of
many, incomparably more developed cultures, but its core has remained completely
preserved.
Roma culture affirms man and life values, among which happiness, love and freedom occupy
a central place.
Roma mimicry is a phenomenon that is characteristic not only for Roma but also for many
other nations. In their distant past, it is known that very prominent Roma have long been
declared and appropriated as members of a particular nation. This fate also followed our
people. Indeed, these are Roma writers, painters, composers, scientists who have entered the
history of other nations.
PROF. DR. BAJRAM HALITI, Chairman, President of the Institute for European
Roma Studies and Research on Crimes against Humanity and International Law and
Deputy Rector of International Roma Cultural University
Honorable guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Hindu brothers and sisters,
my dear students,
Allow me, at the beginning of my presentation, to
express my sincere gratitude to all of you who
gathered today to mark April 8th - World Roma Day
at our University. I would especially like to thank the
Academician Prof. Dr. Shyam Singh Shashi, President
of the Research foundation and rector of the
International Roma Cultural University, and Prof. Dr.
Richa Singh, whose dedication to organizing today's
international marking of April 8th - World Roma Day
Prof. Dr. Bajram Haliti is worthy of great praise.
Given that today is the April 8th, World Roma Day, I am honored as President of the Institute
for European Roma Studies and Research on Crimes against Humanity and International Law,
to express immense satisfaction and to point out that this is a historic day for us Roma,
because for the first time, we mark this very important day together with our Hindu brothers.
You know that at the initiative of Slobodan Berberski in 1971, the First World Roma
Congress was held from 4th to 8th April, in London. It should be noted that three important
decisions were made at this Congress:
When I was elected the General Secretary of the International Roma Union at the Eighth
World Roma Congress in Zagreb in 2008, I addressed the United Nations requesting status A
to be established for us Roma in the ECOSOC, i.e. not to be the observers but active
participants in the creation of economic and social policies in the ECOSOC.
The Roma experienced an exodus from their homeland India, during the period from 8th to
12th century when they had the largest historical and political role in the north and
northwestern India, where 21 kingdoms were created, some in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana,
Delhi, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh (Kannauj) were Romani.
The Second World War brought the Roma the greatest trouble that history records on this
nation. Hitler regarded the existence of Roma as the greatest offense of racial ideals.
The gas chambers, processes, decrees, orders, persecutions, executions without evidence,
crimes for preventive and self-protection reasons, prisons, ghettos, banned zones, gas
chambers of Auschwitz and experimental scalpels of doctors from Auschwitz, Dachau and
Buchenwald, and other torture places had taken 3,500,000 Roma lives. In one word, the Roma
passed through Dante's hell from Vitos, through Jasi, to Auschwitz and Jasenovac.
Starting from the Holocaust in World War II, issues of humanity, democracy and the equal
value of all people should be raised.
Europe, therefore, shows a very controversial image: a beautiful, progressive, modern and
developed continent, but unable to secure the integration of its most excluded citizens - the
Roma - nor the respect for their fundamental human rights.
The reasons why the issue of the minority status of Roma has not been raised for a long time
have been multiple - firstly, their unfavorable social position caused them not having the
strength to organize themselves effectively at the international level and to put their question
on the agenda; secondly, the prevailing view was that the issue of Roma was a question of
their socialization and that their uniqueness, a specific way of life, culture and customs
represented nothing else but a social deviation that needed to be corrected, and not the value
that needed to be preserved; in the end, being very important in international relations, our
"homeland" of India should be concerned about us and shold represent our interests
internationally.
Since its foundation, the Institute for European Roma Studies and Research on Crimes against
Humanity and International Law has given itself the task of continuing this process and trying
to complete it with the international recognition of Roma as a national minority originating
from India.
I will remind you that in 1983 Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India at that time, as the
patron of the Roma Culture Festival in Chandigarh (Punjab), recognized the Roma as "the
children of India" and declared their language, Romani, one of the "official languages of
India", which strengthened the faith. The Roma have entered the land of their homeland, and
some of these groups began to perceive them as their "great ancestors".
An interest in the Roma was shown, however, by her father Nehru, who visited a Roma
settlement in Belgrade during his stay in the former Yugoslavia. After this visit, Nehru's
secretary, Chaman Lal, wrote the book "Roma, the forgotten children of India".
In recent times, there is an increasing number of countries that are beginning to truly take care
of the real and legal position of their diaspora. The reasons for this are different: the desire to
unite all the strengths of one nation, the awakening of national consciousness, the attempt to
use the diaspora for the needs of internal and external politics, as well as the economic
development of the country, etc. It is estimated that around 15 million Roma live outside the
borders of the Republic of India.
Today, at the threshold of the Third Millennium, the Roma need a strategy by the home
country of India in the domain of preserving and strengthening relations between the home
country and the diaspora, as well as the home state and Roma in the region. The main goal of
adopting this document would be to establish and preserve the continuity in preserving and
strengthening the relations of the home country and the diaspora, as well as the home country
and Roma in the region.
Our home country of India should insist that our diaspora members are well integrated in the
societies of the admission countries and are adequately represented in the institutions of the
system of those countries. Also, it should insist that the Roma occupy significant positions in
the economic, cultural, educational and other segments of life and work, and that this position
is followed by political representation in the institutions of the system at both central and local
levels of government.
I congratulate all Roma around the planet April 8th - World Roma Day!
Estimated Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Hindu brothers and
sisters, dear students,
Therefore, it is necessary to say: "They are people." They are part of general, specific and
individual knowledge resulting from philosophical thinking, natural and socio-historical
research of various social groups (tribal, ethnic and national communities) or contemporary
research individuals in these communities.
However, we are witnessing that multicultural prejudices have led to the fact that Roma are
often not treated as part of mankind and, consequently, their community is compared to
communities of "indigenous people", who are settled in Australia, Asia and Africa. So, a
community that is at the lowest level of historical development.
They are forced to live in isolation for centuries, on the other side of "good and evil," exposed
to various prejudices, which led to the creation of ethnic and human distance towards them,
and vice versa, to the point of physical attacks and persecutions and sufferings, which
escalated into genocide during World War II. They remain subject of degradation to this day,
and thus an example of a legitimate animalization of existence, even its destruction. In other
words, they are treated as a lower "race" or descendants and representatives of the group that
the Nazis called "untermensh", which led to the fact their existence still being more fully
described in books in the domain of psychology of cruelty, than in studies which would
document and scientifically expose facts from their lives, history and culture.
Their life - being described in the everyday term "living like Gypsies" - became the paradigm
of life of an unworthy man of any other social group or national community.
"When hangings become man's everyday life," wrote a Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky
"then people get used to them." This is the case with Roma, who live in many, above all,
urban areas of European countries in indescribably miserable conditions, in "houses" of
cardboard boxes, plastic bags, at dumps, often forced to share their living space with animals,
even with rats that feed on parts of their children's bodies!
Estimated Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Hindu brothers and
sisters, my dear students,
- to keep in mind that the process of Roma inclusion contributes to social cohesion,
democratic stability and the acceptance of diversity;
- to unambiguously condemn racism, stigmatization and hate speech directed against Roma,
especially in public and political speech;
Prof. Dr. Bajram Haliti, President of the Institute for European Roma Studies and Research on
Crimes against Humanity and International Law, awarded an honorary doctorate to
academician Prof. Dr. Shyam Singh Shashi, and certificates on the occasion of April 8th -
World Roma Day to Dr. Richa Singh, Dr. Punita Singh, Dr. Sandeep Mawrah, Dr. Nidi
Trehan, Zameer Anwaar and M. Sangitha Mishrra.
Prof. Dr. Bajram Haliti expressed gratitude to all present students and citizens who attended
and took part in celebrating April 8th - World Roma Day.
Belgrade,
04/29/2018
APRIL 8th IN PICTURE
ARRIVE
AWARDS AND SERTIFICATIES
LECTURES
VISIT SAHITI AKADEMY IN NEW DELHY
VISIT TO PROF. DR. SANDEEP MARWAH
VISIT TO TEMPLE ARYA SAMAJ IN NEW DELHY