Background
Discrimination is the most abject form of intolerance between human beings. Yet, it seems to still be deep-rooted in our society, even in the most “advanced” countries of the world. The “George Floyd” case in Minneapolis, Minnesota, reveals the exacerbation and the limits that a group of persons can endure from the dominant majority of society. Black people in America can not stand anymore underestimation by their peers, only on the ground of skin color and face discriminations in housing, employment, and even basic human rights[1]. Today, people of all colors are standing to oppose the inequity and fight against those backward thoughts from an ancient time. However, other communities are still persecuted on the ground of caste, descent, and work. Dalits in India and Roma people in Europe are still victims of despicable persecution. They are victims of prejudice as people reject them on the sole basis of their birth or descent.
Same roots, same fight
When it comes to comparing both communities, one would not believe instinctually that they share more than the foreseeable. Indeed, among several historians and scientists, it seems that Roma people have[2] Dalits have common ancestors, formerly known as “Doma”. Moreover, the semantic is an important way to encapsulate an idea or a concept, and Dalit and Roma people experienced the same designation. We know that the word “Dalit” comes from a vernacular form Sanskritmeaning “broken, split or scattered” and it is now associated with the idea of “untouchability”. There exist different words to “classify” Roma people such as “Gitans”, “Manouches”, or “Tziganes” and each of these words refer to the proper culture and rite the general Roma people can have. The word “Tzigane” or “Zingeuner” in German comes from the word “ἀτσίγγανος” or “atsíganos” that means “that does not touch”. The primary semantic meaning to designate Dalit or Roma people was to inform people not touch them, because they are impure. Semantics have an incredible power to reflect in word concepts to insert in people’s mind subconsciously. As a result, both communities face the same social and institutional rejection and still perdures. It is interesting to see that two distinct and geographically opposed groups can have the same roots and issues.
An aimed-child rejection of the educational system
Nowadays, there are impressive similarities in the sociology of these communities. They both are at the lowest socio-economic level of their society: in 2011, the percentage of Dalit literacy was 66.1 points and 73 points for the general population[3]. Roma people score more or less the same, even if the statistics are measured among the European States– for example, 35% Portuguese, 25% French or up to half of the Romani population in Greece are illiterate[4]. Education is a crucial issue for the improvement and the integration of a community within the national society. Here is the demonstration that they are still excluded, most of all when children are prohibited from attending classes[5]. How can they be integrated if governments do not intend to do so? Illiteracy and lack of education leads to rejection from both the institution and the population.
The only difference between Dalit and Roma people is that Dalits are recognized through the Indian constitution. Of course, there are plethoric examples showing the Constitution is not respected and violations recognized by courts. However, Dalits can have access to higher education via quotas (15% of academic post reservation for Scheduled Caste), while Roma people are not really considered in the European societies. Reports led in 11 European countries show that 77% to 99% percent of Roma people do not have an upper secondary diploma. Education allows a hope for elevating for those who do not have a chance at birth from a socioeconomic standpoint. It has always been seen as a sharp stepping stone to transcend one’s social class. If the State does not provide enough chances for the most vulnerable people to emancipate from social misery, then it does not respect international law. The International Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 28, provides that “States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and based on an equal opportunity, they shall in particular: (a) make primary education compulsory and available free to all”. This survey based on 11 member States of the European Convention on Human Rights[6] shows young people give up school even when it is mandatory in the State. Same reports were conducted among the Dalits population. They do not have the free will to give up school: The State and its institutions do not help them to maintain within the educational system.
Persecution : the unifying shared factor
Dalits and Roma people are still persecuted, even with the development of our societies and the international legal instruments preventing discrimination, racism, and intolerance. What is striking is the link history made between both categories of populations, but having the same effects in different places in the world. Thus, it might be interesting and/or necessary for both communities to embrace their similarities and fight hand-in-hand. This could lead to the impulsion of an international recognition of the suffering of Dalits and Roma at the same time. Moreover, they shall engage in a dialogue between them to influence the way they take action. For instance, Dalits have been recently politicized, mostly in India, while Roma people are still excluded from political participation. If they gather and fight using the same voice, they might be heard in Europe and around the world. Legal protections are in theory numerous, but prove to be ineffective. Action within the community is the only tool they have to make their governments respect and uphold their rights.
Sources
[1] —
[3] https://www.statista.com/statistics/702170/scheduled-caste-literacy-rate-india/
[5] Ibid, Dalits are not allowed to attend government classes, and Roma children are sent to mentally handicapped institutions when they are not supposed to be: http://www.errc.org/reports-and-submissions/barriers-to-the-education-of-roma-in-europe-a-position-paper-by-the-european-roma-rights-center
[6] https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2014-roma-survey-dif-education_fr.pdf