The Romani Social Hierarchy & its comparison to the Indian Varna, Jāti and Gotra systems PART 1

Introduction

The Roma people have a complex social hierarchy that traces its roots to the Indian subcontinent. This system is characterized by a nuanced division of tribes, clans, and castes, which mirrors the Indian Varna, Jāti and Gotra systems. These castes are divided into ritually clean ones and ritually unclean ones.

Note: We don't have a word "caste", same as Indians don't have this word. Some Romani tribes alone are of one caste, some tribes have various castes and in some tribes are only clans.

Concepts of Varna, Jati, and Gotra

(I will explain the categories more in this article)

• Varna: The fourfold classification in the ancient Indian texts (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra) that is idealized and represents broad occupational categories. However, Varna often does not align neatly with the realities of regional and caste-specific social systems.

• Jati: Refers to caste or sub-caste. Jatis are endogamous groups that typically have specific occupations, regional associations, and cultural practices. Jatis are far more localized and diverse than the theoretical Varna system.

• Gotra: A lineage or clan system, tracing ancestry to a common ancient sage or patriarch. Gotra is primarily significant among Brahminical communities but has been adopted by other groups, especially in matters of marriage (exogamy is often practiced within the same Gotra).

Social Organization Among the Roma

• Ethnicity/Nation: The Roma are a distinct ethnic group with origins linked to the Indian Subcontinent. The Roma is an umbrella term.
• Tribe: Tribes represent larger social divisions within the Roma. For example:
  • The Servika Roma (Servika/Kherutna/Slovačika) tribe is prevalent in Slovakia.
  • The Vlax Roma super-tribe includes sub-groups like the Lovári (horse traders) and the Ciurari (sieve-makers).
• Clan: Clans are sub-divisions within tribes, resembling the Indian concept of Gotra. They often denote familial or ancestral connections.
• Caste (or Jāti): While the term “caste” is not commonly used among the Roma, it exists in a system of divisions based on traditional occupation and ritual purity.

Castes Among the Roma

The Romani caste system is broadly divided into two categories:

• Ritually Clean Castes: These castes perform work considered noble or clean, often involving minimal physical labor or work with "the head." Examples include:
• Traders (e.g., horse and car traders, buyers-sellers).
• Musicians.
• Blacksmiths & Coppersmiths.

• Ritually Neutral Castes:
• Sieve-makers.
• Basket weavers.
• Metal collectors.

• Ritually Unclean Castes: These castes engage in work considered polluting, such as:
• Adobe throwers.
• Farmers (digging in the ground is seen as ritually unclean).
• Sweepers.
• Excrement collectors.
• Graveyard workers.

Becoming a "Degeš" (ritually impure)

The term degeš (read "Degesh") derives from an ancient Aryan root and refers to someone who has been ritually "tainted." A person can become degeš through actions deemed unclean, including:

• Work: Performing ritually unclean tasks such as grave digging, excrement collection, or slurry collection.
• Cooking Practices: Cooking with unclean utensils, cooking while using curse words, or during menstruation.
• Behaviour: Actions that violate communal norms, such as:
  • Homosexuality (viewed as causing "cosmic imbalance").
  • Eating ritually unclean food or not suitable food for eating, such as dog meat (ritually unclean animal) or horse meat (sacred-like animal). (Note: Some degeš families are eating normally such food, as they don't see it as wrong)
  • Incestuous relationships (among direct family members; mother, father, sister, brother, uncle, aunt or even in some castes first cousins. PS among some tribes and castes is marrying 1st cousin perfectly fine and ritually clean).

Being labeled as degeš can lead to social exclusion or even expulsion from the community because everything what is touched by such a person becomes prastó/makhado = ritually unclean.

Note: Many tribes don't use word "degeš", they have own words. There are also more words for ritually unclean like mahrimos.

PS: Traditional work (jobs) is inherited in families, as well many other practices. Although nowadays many Roma forgot their traditional jobs, many times you can tell what caste they belonged to due to the rest of behaviour and cooking practices or sometimes from a place where their families lived in (in Slovakia we have known places where the degeša lived and sometimes even surnames tell a lot).

Variations Across Tribes

The caste system’s structure varies among different Romani tribes:

• Some tribes, such as the Lovári, function as castes themselves without further internal caste divisions. Their importance lies in their historical role as horse traders their name also comes from Hungarian word for a horse, i.e. Ló. And they have clans similar to Gotra in India, as significance and prestige among various Lovári clans differs. Highest prestige has apparently the Bougešťi.
• Other tribes, such as the Ciurari, have no clans but are defined by their caste identity (e.g., sieve-makers).

Comparison with the Indian System

The Romani social structure parallels the Indian caste system in several ways:

• Origins in the Varna System: The Roma appear to have descended from the Śudra Varna in India, which includes both ritually clean and unclean Jātis (castes).
• Varied Occupational Roles: Like Indian Jātis, Romani castes are occupationally specialized. Examples include:
• Clean Occupations: Musicians (Śudra roles) and traders (similar to Vaishya-like roles).
• Unclean Occupations: Cremation workers, excrement collectors, sweepers (akin to Dalits in India).

The Indian Varna System

The Varna system divides society into four main categories (Varṇas), each with specific roles and duties:

A. The Four Varṇas

Dvija Varnas;

1. Brahmins (Priests and Scholars):

   • Role: Perform religious rituals, preserve sacred knowledge, and provide guidance on spiritual matters.
   • Status: Considered the highest Varna, responsible for maintaining dharma (cosmic order).
   • Ritual Cleanliness: Brahmins must follow strict rules of purity, including dietary restrictions and avoiding contact with unclean professions or substances.

2. Kshatriyas (Warriors and Rulers):

   • Role: Protect the kingdom, uphold justice, and enforce law and order.
   • Status: Second in the hierarchy, they are responsible for governance and defense.
   • Ritual Cleanliness: Kshatriyas maintain cleanliness but are less rigid than Brahmins due to their involvement in warfare and governance.

3. Vaishyas (Merchants and Traders):

• Role: Engage in commerce, agriculture, and wealth generation.
• Status: Considered ritually clean but below Brahmins and Kshatriyas in prestige.
• Ritual Cleanliness: Vaishyas observe purity laws but are more practical in their adherence.

Non-Dvija Varna;

1. Shudras (Laborers and Service Providers):

   • Role: Perform manual labor and provide services to the upper three Varnas.
   • Status: Lowest of the four Varṇas but still considered part of the "clean" Varna system if they avoid polluting tasks.
   • Ritual Cleanliness: Their work is often manual but not inherently polluting, distinguishing them from Dalits.

B. Outside the Varna System

1. Dalits (Formerly Untouchables):

   • Role: Engage in tasks deemed polluting, such as handling waste, working with dead bodies, or cleaning.
   • Status: Excluded from the Varna system and considered ritually unclean.
   • Examples of Polluting Work:
     • Cremation workers (Dom caste).
     • Excrement collectors (Manual scavengers).
     • Leather workers (Chamars).

2. Mlecchas (Foreigners or Barbarians):

• Role: Non-Indians or those who do not adhere to Indian cultural norms or purity laws.
• Status: Considered impure or outside the Varna system, similar to the concept of Gadže and Gora among the Roma.
• Ritual Cleanliness: Regarded as ritually unclean because they do not observe purity laws or engage in ritually clean jobs.

The Jāti System

The Jāti system is a more granular, localized division of society based on:

• Occupation: Each Jāti specializes in a particular trade or profession, such as blacksmiths (Lohars), weavers (Tantis), and potters (Kumhars).
• Region: Jātis are often unique to specific regions, with variations in status and prestige.
• Ritual Status: Jātis are ranked within the broader framework of the Varna system, though many do not neatly fit into it.

Clean Jātis vs. Unclean Jātis

• Clean Jātis:

  • Associated with essential or skilled trades that do not involve polluting substances.
  • Examples: Blacksmiths (Lohars), carpenters, and goldsmiths.
  • Ritual Cleanliness: Members adhere to ritual purity, and their work is valued within the community.

• Unclean Jātis:

• Involved in tasks considered polluting or impure, such as handling animal carcasses, waste, or death.
• Examples: Leather workers (Chamars), cremation workers (Dom Raja working on cremation Ghats).
• Ritual Cleanliness: Considered impure and often face social exclusion.

The Concept of Dvija (Twice-Born)

(Because I mentioned Dvija and Non-Dvija earlier in this article)

• Who Are the Dvija?

  • The first three Varṇas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas) are known as Dvija or "twice-born."
  • This refers to their spiritual rebirth through the sacred thread ceremony (Upanayana), signifying initiation into Vedic learning.

• Significance of Dvija:

• Dvija individuals have higher ritual responsibilities and privileges, such as studying and reciting the Vedas.
• They are expected to adhere to stricter purity laws compared to Śudra or those outside the Varna system (Dalits, Mlecchas).

The Concept of Ritual Cleanliness (In India)

Ritual cleanliness is central to both the Varna and Jāti systems:

• Clean Varna and Jātis:

  • Follow purity laws (e.g., dietary restrictions, avoidance of pollution).
  • Perform roles that are valued for their contribution to dharma or community well-being.

• Unclean Varna and Jātis:

• Engage in tasks considered polluting (e.g., handling waste or death).
• Excluded from many social and religious activities.

Concept of Social Pollution (Prastó, Makhadipe and Mahrimos vs. Indian Ashuddhi)

• In both systems, engaging in certain activities or behaviors renders a person ritually impure, leading to social exclusion or ostracization.
  • Roma: A person labeled "degeš" or "makhado" becomes untouchable; anything they touch becomes polluted. This could happen due to unclean work, inappropriate cooking practices, or taboo behaviors (e.g., homosexuality or incest).
  • Indian: Similar notions exist in untouchability, where Dalits performing ritually impure tasks (e.g., scavenging, leatherwork) are excluded. Ritual purity is also tied to dietary laws, menstruation, and caste-based taboos.