Being Far Away from the Origin

Origin and Belongingness of the “Gypsies” in Greece

Abstract

Based on research about the “Gypsies” in Greece, this article discusses the difficulties that communities in fluid social environments are facing in sharing their origins. It also explores how a sense of belongingness arises within these groups. Narratives of the origins of “Gypsies” have always been constructed by non-Gypsies, who imposed their names and categories on diverse communities. Accepting these narrative frameworks has disrupted the sense of belongingness among “Gypsies” in their everyday lives, for “Gypsies” consist of various subgroups with different migration histories. Recent discourse emphasizes the Indian origins of the “Gypsies,” based on linguistic similarities between Romani that the Roma, the dominant group of the “Gypsies” speak, and Indian languages such as Hindi or Sanskrit. By scrutinizing the diverse origin narratives of “Gypsies” of different subgroups and backgrounds, this article examines how this dominant discourse works to uphold the borders of the “Gypsy” community in new ways. In particular, this paper points out the importance of the image of a shared body and sensory perception that is said to transcend time and space. It also illuminates the potential power of origin narratives and names that imply an overall disregard for the significance of origin per se, as expressed in statements like “whatever, we don't mind.”