“Roma make a claim that their ancestors were from India. DNA research is said to have established the European gypsies genes to Northern India. It is believed that the various invasions in India led to the exodus of this tribe in three waves which led to the spread of the tribe across Persia, Turkey, Greece, Europe, Spain, Russia, Finland, Egypt and Morocco.
While suspicions have led to wide scale persecution, the world also acknowledges their amazing contribution, especially to music and dance. From guitar to violins in places like Hungary, flamenco dances in Spain and oriental dances in Egypt are said to originate from them.”
Author Interview Roma Yatharth Ki Khoj – Authors Mr. Md. Shadab, Mr. Sunny Raj, and Mr. Sushil Kathuriya has written this book, collectively. When Author Mr. Md. Shadab gave an Author Interview Roma Yatharth Ki Khoj, his response was.
Q1. What is your book about?
A1. It talks about the Romani people who had moved from India about a thousand years back, their culture, journey, story after that. It also takes into account their present situation and the atrocities a big population of the face directly or indirectly. It has been established through various studies and research at western universities that India is their motherland and how their language, biology, and movement has originated in India.
Q2. What inspired you to write this book?
A2. Apart from our interest in Indian culture, working for the community has a special in my family and most importantly our mentor/teacher Padma Shri Dr. S.S. Shashi (D.litt) has been fortunate enough to guide and give us strength. His inspirational journey, knowledge, and oratory on the topic of Roma have been the fuel for us to start and pick up this topic and run with it.
Q3. What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
A3. We endeavor to increase the exposure to this topic in the youth of our country and for them to take pride that India has been associated with great personalities (mentioned in the book) who have made a name for themselves in the West. It would be our wish that the Indian government and governing bodies of respective countries where the Romani people have migrated to recognize them to be People of Indian Origin and grant them due to support to be contributing members of their countries and society at large.
Q4. Is writing your full-time career? Or would you like it to be?
A4. Writing and Film making are passions of mine that are cultivated alongside my main line of work as an entrepreneur. Before the Book on Roma, I have been associated with various short films, write-ups, musical gatherings and feature films with a bent towards social issues.
For example, I have narrated for the Short film “Die Why Die” which was selected at the Woodpecker film festival 2015, it was based on Depression and how it a silent epidemic in the current generation. And, also have dubbed for all male characters in “Dear Mandela”, a Multi award-winning South African film, when it came to India. It talks about provisional housing (slums), which are a huge issue in our country. In a similar vein our book “Roma Yatharth Ki Khoj” is an effort to continue on the same path.
Q5. What was your dream job when you were younger?
A5. My Dream job has to be an entrepreneur and to give back to our country as best as possible. The roots of this have been instilled in me thanks to my parents, uncles, grandparents and through stories of our family’s generations before that who have been serving in government services from the time of Independence.
Through family lore and as per the information I keep reading about in books and articles, I have gathered that one of our ancestors Nawab Azam Ali Khan and his son were also part of and one of the unsung heroes in the revolt of 1857. So, I consider social work and giving back to India as part of our gene pool. Last but not the least, with this book project coming to a close and thanks to our publisher, I think this journey in writing is going to a long and fruitful one. Thanks for your time.
