#incredibleindia #theindianquest #romaigypsies #bedouin #india #history #culture #society Before the advent of Islam in India in the proper sense, in 8th century AD, a group of Indians from Punjab and northern India migrated to the West through Persia, Central Asia, Turkey. This migration continued till 12th century. No exact reason is known yet. The Romany has been called cigano, gitanos, zigenare, zypsies, rom, roma, romani, sinti and tsigani since they came to Europe. Today there are about 10-12 Romany people in Europe. At the first international Romany congress in 1971 in London (England), the Romany adopted their own flag that reminds of the Indian flag and national anthem. The Roma comes from India, more exactly from a peninsula called Panj. They emigrated during the 12th century and then the Roma spread across Europe during the 14th century. Today, they live all over the world.

There are several different theories about why the Romany left India, because of war and the entrance of Islam. The Romany emigrated through Afghanistan, Armenia and Persia. The first Romany people that came to Persia before the 10th century called themselves "The people of the goddess Kali". The second group that fled to Afghanistan through Europe called themselves "Romane Shave-Ramas" ("sons of the king"). The "Romane Shave" were craftsmen, magicians, teachers, astrologists, dancers and musicians.

The story about the Romany has probably changes throughout the centuries. Some Romany told that they came from "Little Egypt", but that is probably more of a referral to a mountain in Greece than the country Egypt.During the 14th century they reached Europe. When the first national states formed during the 16th century the Romany went stateless and lawless. Not until the reformation during the 18th century did their situation improve. World war 2 (1939-1945) meant disaster for the Romany. About 1,5 million Romany got killed by the Nazi regime in Germany.

During the communism in east- and central Europe a hard assimilation policy was conducted against the Romany. Travelling was forbidden, sterilization of Romany women was common and Romany people were mostly not allowed to organize themselves politically. A lot of Romany were, during these times, forced to abandon their traditional Romany lifestyle and identity. In Europe there are somewhere between 9 and 11 million Romany. In south- and North America there are about 4 million Romany. The rest of the world houses about 2 million Romany.

About 90% of the Romany of Europe lives in the member states of EU. Romania has the biggest population with close to 2 million Romany people, or almost 10% of the country's population.

The Romany have no home land or any strive for one. The Romany are instead a part of a network of families or groups. Traditionally the Romany was a travelling people, but today most of them are resident. Culturally, the biggest contributions of the Romanis in Europe is in the field of music and dance.