Banjara Times: Voice of Goaars of India

Banjara Delegates Conference successfully held in New Delhi

New Delhi, October 13, 2007 (Goaars of India News Bureau): All India Banjara Seva Sangh has successfully organised its National Delegates Conference at New Delhi on 13th October, 2007. This Conference was presided by Dr. Shankar Naik, National President All India Banjara Seva Sangh and Central Agriculture Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar was Chief Guest of the function.

Mr. Sharad Pawar addressed the Conference and he said he will approach the government to include the Banjaras of All India in the same Scheduled Tribes List. Also he said that he will approach to the Government that 'Goaar Boli' should be constitutional recognised because this dialect is spoken among more than 6 crore Banjaras of the India.

S. Tirlochan Singh, Chairman, Minority Commission, Shri Laxman Bhai K. Patni, Member, The National Commission for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic Tribes also addressed the delegates of Banjara tribe.

"Banjara Mother" Bibi Jagir Kaur, Ex and first female President of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, said in her exciting speech that Banjara Community have very important role in the Sikh history and Baba Lakhi Shah Ji Banjara is one of them. She proudly announced that "Rashtarpati Bhawan" and Parliament House both and surrounding area was the property of Baba Lakhi Shah Ji Banjara.

All India Banjara Seva Sangh President, Dr. Shankar Naik said that AIBSS will be struggle until the demands are accepted.

Mr. D. Ravindera Naik M.P. from Warangal, Andhra Pradesh said in his speech that Mr. Sharad Pawar is politically strongest person in the Indian Government and IF he wants then he can fulfill all demands of Banjara Community. Mr. Ravindera Naik also thanked him to appoint a Banjara Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Mr. Ravindera Naik M.P. seeks support from Mr. Sharad Pawar for the demand of different state "Telangana". He said if new "Telangana" state formed then 50 Lac Banjaras of that newly formed state can elect their own Banjara Chief Minister. He told that One Lac 'Tandas' of India don't have basic amenities. He ask Mr. Pawar that make arrangements of funds from Planning Commission for the betterment of 'Tandas'.

At this conference AIBSS honoured the Goaar Singer Lakhbir Lakha and Miss Gurinder Naaz from Phagwara for their achievement of "Coca Cola Jodi No. 1" Title. Lakhbir Lakha and Gurinder Naaz allready present a Goaar Boli Album with other Goaar Singers "Mein Kaain Kehno Chha".

Goaar Saint Swami Laxman Chaitanya Bapu Ji Maharaj, Mr. K. Shivamurty Ex. Minister Karnataka, Mr. K.G. Banjara from Gujarat also addressed the conference.

Working President Mr. Haribhau Rathod, M.P. from Yavatmal Maharashtra presented the demands of the Banjara Community and also he thanked the Banjara Delegates from all over India.

In this Banjara Delegates Conference stage was conducted by young Banjara leader from Aligarh, U.P. Om Prakash Nayak.

Banjara delegates from various parts of the country attended the conference with highly interest. Some names of the delegates are as follows: Sham Singh Badrukhan, Harbans Lal Lalka, Nabha, Inder singh Valjot Chandigarh, Surjit Singh, Jagir Singh Khalsa Patiala, Charan Singh Nayak Mujaffarnagar, Sunder Lal Mashall, Ropar, Mulkh Raj Lalka, Malerkotla, Sarup Singh Nayak, New Delhi, Roshan Lal Rathod, New Delhi, Sunil Khanna, Kurukshetra.

For the Photos of Banjara Maha Panchayat, New Delhi and other Goaar Activities, Please click on the link below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamaldharamsaut/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appeal to all Banjara workers "New Delhi Chalo"
Meeting of All India Banjara Seva Sangh in New Delhi on 13th October
All India Banjara Seva Sangh (AIBSS) has been working for last so many years for the interest of Banjaras in the country. The Sangh is going to organize a meeting/social gathering of Banjara Samaj on 13th October, 2007 in New Delhi at Constitution Club Lawn. The meeting will be presided over by Dr. Shankar Nayak, the President of AIBSS. Other dignitaries from various fields will also participate in the meeting. Thousands of delegates of Banjara Samaj from every parts of the country will attend this meeting. For your kind perusal I am briefing hereunder the present socio-economic condition of Banjaras in the country. With the entry of British East India Company and beginning of machine age, the traditional nomadic trading business (Ladeni) of Banjaras had come to an end and they became jobless. In search of livelihood this community was forced to migrate into deep forest areas and difficult mountain terrains and wondering from one State to other with or without family for earning their bread and butter. It is well known from the history of India that the Banjara community has been involved in the service of the nation by way of Ladeni, i.e. Transportation and trading through animals – on cows, bullocks, horses, camels etc. till India attained its freedom. Today, the population of Banjaras is around 6 (six) per cent of the total population of the country, which is more that 60 millions. This Community had been playing an active role in nation building and upliftment of the country by effective farming, animal husbandry, etc. We have just celebrated the 60th independence, but unfortunately, Banjaras are still much backward. Although Banjaras also got freedom but still they are living on the pattern of 18th century. Before independence they were very much neglected after independence also their condition remains same. They could not make any village or Gram Panchayat as they were unorganized and unstable at some place. This Samaj is always lacked behind the development. The objects behind this social gathering of Banjara Community are to highlight their problems, draw the attention of the Government to their present socio-economic condition and to find out the ways for their upliftment and all round development. Being the Working President of All India Banjara Seva Sangh, I request you to kindly attend the meeting of All India Banjara Sangh to be held in New Delhi on 13th October, 2007. Your benign present in the meeting will be a historic event and the morale of Banjara communities will boost and they will feel themselves rejuvenated after this gathering. With kind regards, Yours sincerely, Haribhau Rathod M.P., Working President, All India Banjara Seva Sangh.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gypsy/Roma Journalist Valery Novoselsky Visiting India
My dear Indian brethren! Due to my perspective visit to Bharat on 28 September - 9 October 2007 with the attendance of public events in Agra and Delhi, I would like to ask for your telephone numbers, so that we could have a chance to get in touch while I am there. My omni-present Israeli mobile phone is +972-54-7878797. Most possibly, I`ll get an Indian cell phone number as soon as I arrive to my ancestor`s land. Namaskar! Valery Novoselsky. Editor, Roma Virtual Network.