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Gypsy Migration
Gypsy Migration: India through Europe
The Roma, as the gypsies call themselves, have many legends about the origins of their traveling. They have long
been regarded by followers of Christianity as the “cursed descendants of Cain” (Clebert, 2), a notion which seems
to be supported by the Bible. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, there are many references that may be
applied to the Roma. The very name of Cain, in Semitic languages, means blacksmith, or metal worker, a traditional
Roma occupation. The mark “the Lord set upon Cain” to set him apart (Genesis IV, 15) is still used by the Roma to
demarcate a clan that utilizes the old concept of blood vengeance. Further, Genesis IV, 12 may be interpreted as
the reasons for gypsy avoidance of agricultural work and the beginnings of their roaming the earth: “When thou
tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be
in the earth”.
Gypsy Lifestyle
Extended study of the book of Genesis support the “sons of Cain” myths by emphasizing traditional
Roma occupations: “Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other was
Zillah. And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents… Ad his brother’s name was Jubal: he was
the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-Cain, an instructor of
every artificer in brass and iron…”(Genesis IV, 19-22) Other fables of the origin of their wandering have to do
with the crucifixion of Christ.
An Indian gypsy legend tells of a curse by a sorcerer who condemned them to wander the earth forever, never
sleeping in the same place twice, drinking from the same well twice, or crossing the same river twice in the
same year.
Gypsy Dance
This linguistic evidence is supported by the similarities of the gypsy culture with Indian culture in terms of
dress, appearance, social organization, and cleanliness. Like Indians, gypsies do not wash dishes in the same
vessels as where clothes are washed; tables are also to be kept clean, with nothing considered unclean,
such as shoes or underwear, allowed to touch it. On a social scale, there are many similarities between the
Dom of India and gypsies. All are considered lower caste vagrants; they are characterized as lazy, dreamers,
gamblers, smokers, drinkers, fighters, and singers.
Gypsy in India
The reason for the movement of the gypsies is a question that may never be answered. It is possible that their
rung on the Indian social scale, and subsequent treatment, was unacceptable to them, so they began movement to
better their status. Another hypothesis involves the White (Epthalite) Huns from Central Asia. Their invasion of
India in the fifth and sixth centuries brought crisis to India. The fall of the Gupta dynasty and disintegration
of the Empire caused the decay of towns and agriculture, which lead to famine and epidemic outbreaks. The Roma may
have begun to move to escape these tribulations. (Marushiakova and Popov, 11-12) Yet another theory presented
also had the Roma leaving India to escape the social and economic upheaval caused by the Arab invasion of India
in the seventh and eighth centuries. This invasion is known to have caused massive migration in India of many
people, so it is not untoward that the Roma may have begun to move then.
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