The Ambedkarites and their misconceptions about the Roma, Ḍom, DNT & Dalits - Romani viewpoint

A certain faction within the Ambedkarite movement perpetuates a misunderstanding regarding the Romani people. They incorrectly assert that all Roma are Dalits. This view stems from a fundamental lack of comprehension of our distinct history, social structures, and lived realities. We, the Roma, explicitly reject being labelled as the "Dalits of Europe", because such claims are not only historically inaccurate but also socially misleading.

Within the Romani societies, there exists a group analogous to the Dalits, whom we term Degeša (plural of the singular form Degeš) used among the Servika Roma tribe of Slovakia (and the Czech Republic post-WW2). These are individuals and families associated with tasks considered ritually impure according to the Romipen's traditional Romani norms, such as working with leather, handling corpses, residing near or on the cemeteries, dealing with waste or excrement, or street sweeping, as well those who engage in taboo behaviours such as incest, walking nude among their kids or among the elders or in homosexuality, and/or are engaged in eating of the taboo meats from horses, rats, dogs or cats. They occupy a distinct social position which makes them socially, ritually impure to the other Roma, same as the Dalits are to the Savarna in India.

Same as the Dalit can pollute the Savarna, the Degeš can pollute the ritually pure Rom. So, the Roma who are traditionally pure don't marry with the Degeša, don't eat/drink anything from which the Degeša were eating/drinking and don't receive food or drink made by the Degeša, in order not to become ritually impure as well.

Some of the Ḍom community in India are indeed classified as Dalits (de facto based on same criteria, as the Roma see the Degeša), but most of the Ḍom (same as all the Banjara) belong under the categories of the Śudra Varna (so a part of the Savarna), the Śudra Varna is often seen as the part of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), as well many of the Ḍom are seen as the Denotified Tribes (DNTs), many of the Banjara are a part of the DNT.

The category of Denotified Tribes (DNT) in India is itself a product of British colonial rule. Nomadic lifestyles were criminalised by colonial authorities, and entire communities were stigmatised as inherently deviant. This approach was profoundly Eurocentric and reflected Western anxieties about mobility and social order. When Ambedkarite activists today classify nomadic groups as Dalits or “Mahadalits”, they unconsciously reproduce this colonial logic, redirecting European-style racial prejudice against groups such as the Roma.

This misconception about the DNT is not only among the Ambedkarites, but unfortunately as well among the mainstream Indian society. As well, there is the misconception that all the SC are the Dalits (Untouchables), the SC category by the Indian government is a category which covers as well the Śudra, as the Śudra are the traditional labour/artisan class within the Varna system, and the Indian government created the SC category so blurred that under that category as well belong some Dalit groups like the leather-workers. And same problem like with the SC is with the Other-Backward Classes (OBC), as it is as well blurred and doesn't reflect Varna and Avarna.

The Ambedkarites frequently draw parallels between the marginalisation of Roma in Europe and Dalits in India. However, this is a false equivalence. From a traditional Romani ritual purity perspective, both Dalits and non-Roma Europeans (Gora/Gore, or Gadže) are considered ritually unclean due to differing cultural practices (e.g., the so-called 'five-second rule' for dropped food, or cooking habits in general among the non-Roma Europeans/Whites). Even our own Degeša may view Whites (non-Roma Europeans) as ritually unclean. The critical difference is that while everyone may see a Dalit as unclean, a Dalit does not see others as unclean to themselves, and this is a nuance often missed.

Explanation of Key Terms and Concepts (things not explained in the text)

Ambedkarites: Followers of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion for Dalit rights and social justice. The slogan "Jai Bhim" (Victory to Bhim) is a rallying cry in his honour.

Roma: An ethnic umbrella name for the group originating from the Indian subcontinent, now primarily living in Europe, with its own language, customs, and internal social hierarchy.

Ḍom: A diverse group of communities in India, from which the Roma (same as the Domari/Lom) ethnic name(s) originate.

Banjara: A group of the people closely related to the Roma who remain in India. Although their traditional "caste" system differs a little (exactly mirrors the Roma one) from the Indian "caste" system, they should be a part of the Śudra Varna.

Dalits/Untouchables: Communities traditionally placed outside the four-varna system in India, historically associated with occupations considered ritually impure.

Degeša: Romani term (within the Servika Roma tribe) for socially outcast Roma groups associated with ritual impurity, comparable to Dalits.

Denotified Tribes (DNTs): Communities in India that were historically nomadic or semi-nomadic and were labelled as "criminal tribes" by the British under the Criminal Tribes Act (1871). This stigmatising label was repealed post-independence, but these groups continue to face severe socio-economic marginalisation.

Savarna: Refers to those belonging to the four traditional varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra), i.e., those not classified as Dalit or Adivasi (tribal).

Avarna: Refers to those who are not belonging to the four traditional Varnas.

Gora/Gore/Goura: The Indian and Romani name for the people of the fair skin, in general used to call the non-Roma Europeans AKA Whites.

Gadžé: Non-Roma people, usually used to call the non-Roma Europeans, but originally probably used to the Farmers in general, as it comes from the Gajjha in the Śauraśeni Prakrit which originates in the Sanskrit's Gārhya meaning "Domestic" AKA local.

Romipen/Romanipen/Romimo: A part of the Romipen are the traditional Romani norms about žužipen (ritual cleanness) and prastipen/magerimo (ritual impurity), culture & traditional jobs, eternal unwritten laws & traditions about the Romani norms, cosmic balance/imbalance and many more such as pativ (honour). Romipen is de facto same as the Dharma to the Indians, only difference is that it is among the Roma.