One Blood, One Flame: Volume III

The Oral Histories of the Yugoslav Gypsies before, during and after WWII

My Romani team and I interviewed and filmed 154 Gypsy survivors of WWII in the former Yugoslavia. But perhaps the best stories, at least my favourites, are in Volume III.

Because Volume I was only about the Roma of Nish, and Volume II only about the Gypsies in the rest of Serbia, their stories weren't so different. Although we encountered many different kinds of Gypsies, with unusual traditions, their stories were somewhat similar.

But in Volume III, we have the stories of many Gypsies who, according to their customs and tales, came from various regions in Old India and from many unrelated castes. Their stories in Volume III show for the first time in Gypsy studies that the "Roma" were not one people, with one language, nor with the same traditions. From their customs, it is possible to recognize Kashmiri, Punjabi and Rajasthan castes from northwest India; the Gond, Ghasia and Sais castes from central India, and even the Tamil from south India.

Today there are no nomadic Gypsies in the Balkans. But before WWII, most Gypsies in Montenegro were still nomadic, and were still keeping alive the traditions and language from their original homeland. How refreshing it was to hear in their won words the descriptions of their lives and travels instead of the stereotyped versions of non-Romani writers. At last, all the different stories of how the Gypsies came to the Balkans (some as slaves to build monasteries, others as blacksmiths, cowherders and traders, and some as predatory gangs) makes sense, because they came from different tribes and castes. They did not come as one people, or even at one time. They did not leave because of one reason either. Many reasons for their departure are given; earthquakes, wars, and famine are all mentioned in Gypsy literature. But the main reason given in many of these oral histories was, "Our ancestors were always looking for work, for a job. They were always searching for a better life."

Most Gypsies in the former Yugoslavia suffered great distress and destruction during WWII. In their own words, we hear how they survived. while their Jewish neighbours and employers did not. The question is still debated by scholars; Were the Gypsies targeted for extermination during WWII like the Jews? These oral histories should go a long way in answering that tragic question.

Without exception, all Yugoslav Gypsy survivors of WWII considered life under Tito as the best of times for their people. But many still wonder which was the worst: WWII or today?

For those who want to understand Gypsies, to understand their past, and what is happening to the today, read all of these stories. This is thier literature. This is their history.

Paul Polansky

Knez Selo, Serbia

March 2008