Known by different names in different places, such as Kale in Finland and Portugal, Gitanos in Spain, Manush or Gitan in France and Travelers in Scandinavia, the ‘Roma’ people in Romania, also popularly known as the Gypsies are the second largest ethnic minority community in Romania, right after the Hungarians.

The Roma people have become a part of the Romanian image which no matter how hard they try, cannot dismember it from themselves. This ethnic group that exists in Romania is a very hard working community that has been trying to assimilate into the Romanian society since ages. ‘Gypsy’ which is considered to be a derogatory term now, has a nomadic lifestyle culture, moving from one place to another without restricting themselves to a single place. However, their existing habits and style of living have been threatened due to the fact that they are being forced to stay in one place now, and has to conform to the unnatural norms, putting them in trouble.

The Roma originated in India and they scattered to different parts of the world as they travelled throughout Eastern Europe and gradually gained reputation as mobile entertainers, metal workers and unfortunately as petty thieves as well. Studies have clearly stated the fact that there are about 13 Romani communities across the entire Europe with Roma in Romania constituting one of the largest minority communities in a country. With the Roma people leaving northern India about 1500 years ago, its migration across Europe started around 900 years ago and still spreading.

The Romani people have a rich and exuberant lineage of culture and heritage. Their influential musical and cultural journeys have a vibrant and interesting history to talk about. Collecting bits and pieces from generations, locations and times it has become a culture with vibrant elements. A major percentage of the Romas in Romania are orthodox Christians with the rest being Pentecostals, Roman Catholics, Reformed, Greek Catholics, Baptists and Seven-Day Adventists.

The Roma community in Romania has however been facing certain communal issues that prevent them from being accepted by the society. With eviction drives being carried out by the British Government inadvertently, Roma people are forced to leave their places and move away, leading to their negligence and discrimination. They try incessantly to give out a message to their neighbouring communities, how they want to be associated with Romania loyally and needs the nation to accept them as a part of their own country. With the passage of time and adoption of better principles by the government, it is however expected that these Roma communities that prevail throughout different nations would be accepted without any prejudice and their existence would become conducive to the society rather than toxin.