 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Dipanita Nath
The musicians from Hungary who made gypsy rhythms popular worldwide, are in India to trace their roots
Eight years ago Europe discovered a new kind of music — gypsy rhythms from a remote corner of Hungary. Fresh and folksy, catchy and danceable, listeners couldn’t stop moving to the beats. Critics found to their amusement, much of the sound came from instruments like spoons and milk cans. The tracks climbed up the charts and the group, Parno Graszt (meaning White Horse in native Romani), became the first Hungarian band ever to feature in the European top ten countdown. Ever since, Parno Graszt has been an essential part of almost all major musical festivals in Europe, from the Netherlands and France, to Russia and Belgium. For the next few weeks, however, the world’s favourite gypsies are on a new trip— to discover their roots in India.
“Our forefathers left India more than 2,000 years ago and some Rajasthan dialects have similar sounding words to ours. We’re travelling back on the path our people came from,” says band member Jozsef Olah, during a brief stopover in Delhi on route to Jaipur. While in Jaipur, they will perform with an indigenous group from Rajasthan at a music function. Accompanying them is a film crew from BBC which is making its second documentary on the group
At the Old Delhi railway station, the band’s luggage has all the expected musical accompaniments— guitar, accordion, more guitars as well as some peculiarly shaped instruments like kitchen pincers. “Anything that can be used to create sound is an instrument for us. We’ve even rubbed our fingers on door surfaces to create melody,” says Olah, who plays the tambourine and guitar. The songs deal with love and loss and pleasant pastimes like fishing and usually, the beats are infused with joy.
Parno Graszt was formed in 1987 in Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, one of the most underdeveloped counties of Hungary. The lack of modernity, however, had one positive result; the ethnic culture of the gypsy Roma community remained intact.
In a typical gathering, everybody in the community grabs an instrument and plays along. “Nobody in our group has ever trained in music. My mother Erzsebet Nemeth envisioned a band and goaded me to form one that would sing our kind of music,” says Olah. All of Parno Graszt’s members are from Olah’s family; his elder brother Janos is on double bass and vocals, his son Krisztian on the accordion and his nephew Viktor on the guitar. All of them remain part of the band, even though of the 24 members, only five have come to India. Olah begins to strum his guitar as band member Sandor Horvath beats a sound out of the kitchen pincers. And then, they burst into song. (With thanks from indianexpress.com)
India Tour of "Parno Graszt" Gypsy Band
10-13-2008 20:00 at Rajasthan International Folk Festival (Jodhpur RIFF), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
10-17-2008 20:00 at Kawa Cultural Centre, Jaipur, Rajasthan
10-19-2008 18:30 at India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi (IN),
http://www.iicdelhi.nic.in
Contact: 24619431
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yavatmal, October 5, 2008 (Shankar Ade): Balakrishna Sidram Renke, Chairperson of the National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes told the gathering of Bhatke and Vimukt Tribes of Maharashtra on October 5, 2008 at Postal Maidan, Yavatmal that The Commission (NCDNSNT) has recommended reservations as available to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to around 11 crore people falling under the denotified, nomadic or semi-nomadic tribe categories. Shri Renke was speaking as Chief Guest of the Bhatke Vimukt State Level Conference held in Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
Shri Renke said “As a constitutional safeguard, we have favoured reservations from Gram Panchayat level to the Parliament level, and in education and employment for these tribes like it is available for SCs and STs,” Shri Balakrishna Sidram Renke told that The Commission has further sought relief for these categories of tribes by extending the Prevention of Atrocities Act to them. The Act currently applies to only SCs and STs.
NCDNSNT Chairman Shri Balakrishna Sidram Renke told the gathering that The Commission presented the final copy of the Commission’s study on the socio-economic conditions of these tribes to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 20, 2008.
Shri Renke urged the Prime Minister to have the recommendations processed urgently for a final decision and early implementation. He told that The Prime Minister assured the Commission of expeditious action on the recommendations.
Shri Renke said that the Commission has further recommended that the government should get a “tent to tent” survey done within the next six months and also a community-wise census so as to gather specific data about 1,500 nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes and 150 denotified tribes.
He said the Commission has recommended the initiation of a special housing scheme to ensure that families are provided with “small pucca houses” in the next five years. He said “Since most of the people falling under these tribes have no addresses, they can never get access to voter cards and ration cards. A housing scheme is a must to give hundreds of these people addresses,”
He said another significant point mooted by the Commission relates to providing many of these “on the move” nomadic tribes permanent shelter by helping them settle down as villages. He said “The Government should be facilitating the settlement of such tribes as villages by acquiring land for the purpose.” The Commission has also mooted the idea of putting an Minimum Land Holding Act in place to guarantee land to these tribes in case they want to settle down and engage in agriculture. Another important recommendation is to help these tribes develop their existing skills by imparting them suitable training.
Shri Renke told that Tribes like Pardhi, Baori, Sansi, Berad and Kanjar Bhat fall under the Denotified tribes while Nat, Dombari, Sapera, Madari and Kalandar fall under Nomadic Tribes. Van Gujar, Rebari, Maldhari and Dhangar are some of the tribes falling under the semi-nomadic tribes.
Goaar M.P. from Yavatmal Shri Haribhau Rathod, who is the 'Pramukh Margdarshak' of the Bhatkya Vimukt Parishad of Maharashtra told the gathering that All India Banjara Kranti Dal and other partner Organisations, organising a Morcha on October 15, 2008 in New Delhi to make pressure on Central Government for accepting Renke Commission's Report before the Parliament Elections. He said, if Shri Manmohan Singh Government accepted the Renke Commission's Report before elections, then 15 Crore Bhatke Vimukt Tribes will support Congress in the Parliament Elections. Shri Haribhau Rathod appealed all Bhatke Vimukt Workers to attend The Delhi Morcha on October 15, 2008.
Shri Laxmanbhai Kalidas Patni, Member, National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes, V.J.N.T. Leader Shri Laxman Gaikwad, Shri Ramji Ade, Shri Machhindra Chate, Yayati Naik, Dr. T.C. Rathod, Advocate Sudhakar Jadhav, Shri Bhagat Rathod, Mrs. Anutai Rathod, Mrs. Suman Tai Rathod, Mrs. Vanmala Rathod, Shri Balasaheb Shinde, Shri Bharat Rathod, Shri Prakash Rathod and many other prominent leaders of Bhatkya Vimukt Tribes attended this conference.
Shri Rajudas Jadhav conducted the stage of this conference. Shri Ajay Rathod expressed thanks to all attendees of the conference. Poet Shri Gyanesh Vakudkar presented a poem at this occassion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goaar M.P. Haribhau Rathod Sangharsh Ke Rah Par:
Mumbai, August 14 (UNI): MP Haribhau Rathod, from Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, today said he will not contest the next Lok Sabha polls if his demand for including the Nomadic Tribes in the reserved category is not met.
Addressing a press conference to announce the meeting of the Nomadic Tribes on August 21 at Azad Maidan, Mr Rathod said he remained absent during the trust vote on July 22 this year, because he was confident that the Nomadic Tribes will be included in the reserved category.
''I am expelled from BJP and will contest from Congress or any other party, only if our demands are met,'' the Parliamentarian said.
''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured me of the reservation and I am sure that the same will be done before December 5, or rather within a month,'' Mr Rathod said.
Rathod said he organises a convention of the Nomadic Tribes on January 5 every year, which will not be held this year, as he believes that their demands will be met.
''From this year, the annual convention will not be needed as the demand will be fulfilled and even if it is not met, I will give up the event,'' Mr Rathod added. ( With thanks from chennaivision.com)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Delhi, July 8, 2008: There should be a separate 10 per cent quota for 578 Nomadic and Semi-nomadic communities identified till now, says a government panel. Of these communities - clubbed together under the rubric of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic tribes - 474 are placed in the SC, ST or OBC categories, but 104 have no benefits at all.
The Panel has also called for a special drive to provide voter ID cards, ration cards, BPL cards and houses for these wandering groups. Denotified tribes are those Communities that were notified by the British as Criminal Tribes under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871.
This was repealed in 1952 and these communities were thus "Denotified". The Nomadic communities include pastoral nomadic communities, entertainers (acrobats, dancers, snake-charmers, madaris), wildlife-related groups, artisan groups like the Gadia Lohars and the Banjaras.
Sources in the National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic Tribes said: "Our extrapolations on the 1931 census put the population of these communities at 10.75 crore. We have thus demanded 10 per cent quota for them.
"We have also asked the government to take those among them already in the SC, ST and OBC categories out of these quotas and place them in the separate 10 per cent quota so that they are not swamped out by the better-off groups there." The Commission's report - submitted to Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar - has also demanded a special drive to provide voter ID cards and ration cards to people of these groups.
"About 98 per cent of these people are landless and homeless. Many have no proof of Indian citizenship and no permanent address," said a source.
The report has also demanded a separate census of these communities, a separate Indira Awas Yojana to build homes for them and the extension of the SC/ST Atrocities Act to provide them security against victimisation. It has also called for a separate ministry for these groups, an advisory committee for them in each district and the extension of enquiry and supervision powers to the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If Congress is ready to provide reservations to Vimukta Jaatis, then I will join Congress: Haribhau Rathod, M.P. and President, All India Banjara Kranti Dal
Wednesday, August 06, 2008 (Kiran Tare): Haribhau Rathod, the BJP MP who was absent in parliament for the trust vote for prime minister Manmohan Singh, has said that he is ready to join the Congress, provided the party accepts his precondition.
Addressing a press meet on Tuesday, Rathod said, “If I have to join any political party other than BJP, I see Congress as the alternative. But if it refuses reservation to the Vimukta Jaatis (VJ), I will not join the party.”
Claiming that he remained absent for the trust vote to serve the country and the society, Rathod said, “I am sure that Manmohan Singh will accept the recommendations by the Balkrishna Renake Commission regarding reservation to Vimukta Jaatis (Denotified Tribes). At the same time, I believe that the nuclear deal with US is beneficial for India. I thought that if BJP takes power at the Centre, it would never allow reservation for Vimukta Jaatis. So, I decided to remain absent for the trust vote.”
Justifying his decision, Rathod said, “Manmohan Singh is my "Guru Bhai". It is in history that the Banjaras helped the Sikhs in crisis. This time when a Sardar was in crisis, I thought I should help him.”
Rathod claimed that he neither took money for backing UPA nor any one from Congress or Samajwadi Party contacted him.
(E-mail: t_kiran@dnaindia.net) (With thanks from dnaindia.com)
Haribhau Admits welfare of his caste was behind his switching sides: According to one other report, National President of Banjara Kranti Dal, Hari Bhau Rathod M.P. said that ''If the government had fallen, the 15 crore people belonging to the various denotified castes would have been affected and I doubt that the BJP government would implement the report if it came to power.'' Mr Rathod said he along with BJP MLA Eknath Shendge met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 3, when he was promised the implementation of the report. He said, "welfare of his caste was the main reason for him to switch sides."
Thanks to Munde Ji: Thanking BJP General secretary Gopinath Ji Munde for all his support to him, Mr. Haribhau Rathod said he was still ready to do anything for Munde Ji.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The First Tribal Script in Banjara Language has been prepared"
HYDERABAD, August 4, 2008: The Lambada Hakkula Porata Samiti and Jagathi Mahila Mandal on Sunday demanded that the state government fulfil its promise of setting up a special academy for development of tribal language.
This promise was made by the then minister for school education, N Rajyalakshmi, in 2004. She had promised that the academy would be set up with headquarters at Hyderabad and it would work to encourage tribal students to go to school. But since then there has not been much progress.
The tribals in Telangana have the capacity to tilt the balance of at least 45-50 assembly seats in the elections, according the Lamabada Hakkula Porta Samiti president Banoth Rukmini Naik. She said the samithi would meet the leaders of all political parties including Chiranjeevi after he launched his party, and urge them to support their cause.
Talking to TOI, she said there are 33 tribes and none of them has a script of their own and this is causing difficulties in coping up with the education. As a result, majority of them drop out at the primary level.
But now following a consistent effort for almost three decades, the first tribal script in Banjara language has been prepared with the help of English alphabets by Chilkuri Amar Varaprasad who is himself a Banjara. This script was examined by several experts from various universities and had been approved by experts, she added.
The reason for developing the script in English, she said was because Banjaras were spread across the country and this book would help all the Banjaras.
The script would have 50 letters including vowels and consonants. She said that the state government had allocated seven per cent of the budget for the backward classes for the tribals, and if it can open exclusive schools for tribals in the Telangana districts where the maximum number of tribals in the state belong to, it would help thousands of tribal students who were otherwise languishing. (With thanks from "Times of India")
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article about Banjara Folk Dancer Miss Neeta Pawar and her brother Narender Pawar is Coming Soon........
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harbans Lal Vartiya, First Goaar of Punjab who elected President of Municipal Committee Sangrur, is seen with MLA Sangrur Surinderpal Singh Sibia. Harbans Lal Vartia is son of prominent Goaar Nayak Shri Kundu Ram Vartia and he is resident of Sohian Nagar, Sangrur.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WE ARE THANKFULL TO THOSE ORGANISATIONS, WHO CELEBRATED 95th BIRTH ANNIVERSARI OF GREAT GOAAR NAYAK SHRI VASANTRAO JI NAIK !
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banjaras of Rajasthan presenting thanks to Wasundhra Raje, Chief Minister, Rajasthan for providing them 5 percent special reservation with other tribes i.e. Gujjars, Gadia Lohars and Raikas. In above picture Maan Singh Banjara (State President), Om Parkash Nayak, Ashok, Brijender Singh Meghawat and others seen with Shrimati Wasundhra Raje in Jaipur. (Report by Kappu Swami, with thanks from Shankar Ade, Editor, Weekly Washim Wartahar)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"For me party is not important. Anyone who supports my cause of getting reservation for Denotified and Nomadic Tribes is important.": Haribhau Rathod
Haribhau Rathod denied he had taken any money from the ruling coalition to be absent.
New Delhi, July 23, 2008: BJP MP from Maharashtra Haribhau Rathod, who had on Tuesday defied his party and abstained from voting on the confidence motion in the Lok Saba, trotted out sudden illness on Wednesday as a reason for keep away from Parliament.
However, he made no mistake about where his loyalties were saying even if he were to be present in the House last night he would have "mostly" voted for the government. "It is very nice the government has won".
Rathod, who was among the several BJP MPs who had defied the whip, said the doors of the Congress and the NCP were open to him in case the BJP takes action against him.
Giving his version on the absence, he said "I came back from Parliament yesterday at around one pm to take my diabetes injection. Unfortunately, the cook at home had not prepared any lunch and hence a friend of mine suggested a nearby eatery joint.
"Suddenly, on the way my sugar level dropped because of which I became drowsy and was rushed to Kukreja Hospital in Rajouri Garden (about 15 km from Parliament). I was in the ICU and was finally discharged at around nine in the evening. My phones were switched off and no one was allowed in the ICU. I was under tension since I had not made up my mind about the vote. It is nice that the government has won and I would have also voted for the government only," he said.
The MP who is said to be close to senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde said he and many others were unhappy with BJP for "sidelining" Munde.
Rathod denied he had taken any money from the ruling coalition to be absent. "Anyone can say anything. If you have proof bring it out. Money is not important for me. I am happy the way I am."
Rathod said "Gopinath Munde is being sidelined in the party. I have deep respect for him. If such a thing can happen to him, what about people like us."
Claiming that both the Congress and NCP doors were open to him, he said "for me party is not important. Anyone who supports my cause of getting reservation for denotified and nomadic tribes is important." (With thanks from expressindia.com)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yavatmal, July 23, 2008: Prominent Banjara leaders condemned the 'attack' on Haribhau Rathod’s home and 'stone-throwing' there.
According to the information, BJP activists were involved in the attack. Banjara leaders demanded their immediate arrest and police protection to the MP Haribhau Rathod.
Banjara leaders said that our great leader believed that India needed nuclear energy "because power is the lever to development of the country".
BJP MP from Yavatmal, Haribhau Rathod, was absent due to ill health.
New Delhi, July 17, 2008: The Rajasthan Assembly has passed the quota bill providing reservation to the Gurjar community. The Assembly passed the bill by voice vote on Wednesday night. The Bill provides five per cent quota to Gurjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars and Raikas under the special backward class category. It also reserves 14 per cent for the economically backward, including those from forward castes.
The Bill was brought following large-scale protests by Gurjars demanding the community's inclusion in the ST category.
Despite the opposition Congress party supporting the bill, some of the party's MLAs including C P Joshi, Jagannath Paharia, Harimohan Sharma termed it as a bill in haste and under the pressure of Gurjar community's agitation which claimed about seventy lives in 2007-2008.
After the bill was passed unanimously, the House made a consensus resolution that the Central government should include the very bill in the 9th schedule of the constitution so that it could not be challenged anywhere in the court.
State Law Minister G S Tiwari said the bill provide reservation of seats in educational institutions in the state and appointments and posts in the services under the state in favour of the Scheduled Casts (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Backward Classes, and Economically Backward Classes and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. "The total reservation percentage would not go beyond 68 per cent," he said. The provisions of this bill shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions contained in any other act, Tiwari said.
Without disturbing the quota percentage of SC: 16 per cent, ST: 12 per cent and OBC: 21 per cent, the bill extends quota benefit of 5 per cent to four castes of Gurjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, and Raika, and 14 percent to EBCs including Brahmins, Rajput, Vaishya, Mathur etc.
As many as 40 people were killed in the month-long protests. (With thanks from ibnlive.com)
AKOLA (MAHARASHTRA), July 1, 2008 (Neeraj Rathod): Architect of Modern Maharashtra and green revolution, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Late Shri Vasantraoji Naik's 95th Birth Anniversary was celebrated by Maharashtra Banjara Employees Association by great enthusiasm at Akola, Maharashtra.
Program was celebrated by garlanding the statue of Vasantraoji Naik at Vasant Desai Stadium. "Vasantroaji was the real brain behind transformation of Maharashtra in being far above other states in field of development and progress," quoted Amar Rathod.
Among the dignitaries who participated in the program were Advocate Amol Chavhan, Engineer Amar Rathod,Engineer Santosh Jadhav, Mr. Arun Kumar Jadhav, Dr. Arvind Ade, Prof. Ratan Rathod, Prof. Atamaram Rathod, Prof. Pravin Rathod, Prof. Narendra Chavhan, Mr. B. M. Pawar, Mr. Kalusing Rathod, Mr. Sharad Chavhan and many other officers. (Email of Neeraj Rathod is: neeraj56.rathod@gmail.com)
1st July: 95th Birth Anniversary of Goaar Nayak Late Shri Vasantrao Ji Naik, Ex C.M. of Maharashtra: Every Goaar, Specially in Maharashtra State celebrating his 95th Birth Anniversary. On 1st July, there will be big celebrations in Pusad and On 7th July, there will be a Banjara Youth Conference in Manora, Maharashtra. Shri Manoharrao Naik, Minister of Maharashtra and Sanjay Rathod MLA will be the prominent guests at this occasion. Late Shri Vasantrao Naik was known as Architecture of Modern Maharashtra. He was born on 1st July, 1913 in the small village Gahuli in Yavatmal District. His father Fulsing Naik and mother Hunaki Mata were very religious. He was a person of simple living and high thinking. He thought about farmers and their hardship life. (Shankar Ade from Pohra Devi)
Jaipur, June 18, 2008: The Gujjar, Banjara and Rebari community will be given five per cent special quota in the existing OBC category.
The announcement was made in a joint press conference addressed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje and Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla in Jaipur. The 27-day Gujjar agitation, which witnessed largescale violence, claimed 43 lives in police firing.
Gujjar Leader Col. Kirori Singh Bainsla said, "I thank the Gujjar community for coming along with me to resolve the long-pending demand. I am grateful to the Chief Minister and the media".
