A History of the Romani People… Roots in India and Routes Around the World

Welcome to Season 6, Episode 38! In this episode, we're looking at a diaspora that most people probably don't associate with Asia at all: the Romani people, or Roma. Previously known as "Gypsies" this is a term that's become degrading for some, and it's not the identity term that most Roma people choose.

The ancestors of today's Romani people actually came from South Asia. From there, their descendants traveled through western Asia and eventually into Europe, and later to North and South America and other parts of the world… including the U.S. and Canada. We'll look at different Romani communities, their traditions, what remains from their South Asian origins, and the remarkable ways Romani culture adapted to the places where people settled.

In our recurring segment, we'll celebrate some of the U.S. Open players of Asian descent as well as the recent Emmy wins for Hiro Murai.  

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Segments

• 00:25 Intro
• 02:09 A History of the Romani People… Roots in India and Routes Around the World
• 27:24 Celebration of the Emmy Awards and U.S. Open