Ambedkar Inspires Roma Community in Hungary
In Hungary, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has become a powerful symbol for the Roma community, a group that has historically faced discrimination. Tibor Derdak, speaking from the city of Miskolc, shared how he co-founded a school named after Ambedkar two decades ago. Notably, Ambedkar himself never visited Hungary, yet his legacy resonates deeply here.
Derdak describes Ambedkar’s journey as a “fairytale” for the Roma people. The story of a man who fought through adversity to stand against caste oppression and shape his country’s constitution has inspired many. This connection began in 2005 when Derdak, along with Roma activist Janos Orsos, traveled to Maharashtra for meditation retreats. There, they recognized similarities in their struggles. “We saw people from oppressed communities achieve great things and thought we could too,” Derdak recalls.
Historically, the Roma community is believed to have emigrated from northern India nearly a thousand years ago. After returning to Hungary, Derdak began translating Ambedkar’s writings into Hungarian, aiming to replicate his impact on the Roma. The school named after Ambedkar has since become a beacon of hope for Roma activists throughout Europe.
Every morning, around 125 students enter the school, which features a brass plaque inscribed in both Hungarian and Hindi. One line reads, “He is a Buddhist saint,” a statement that would have surprised Ambedkar himself.
Artist Akshay Mahajan, who visited the school in 2013, noticed the students’ enthusiasm to learn Hindi words like “chhora” for boy and “chhori” for girl. He passionately pointed out that without the Roma, Europe might not have had the guitar. Inside the school, students focus on national exams while studying Ambedkar’s speeches alongside Roma history, linking two narratives of oppression that share striking similarities.
The Roma community has often faced segregation, with around 90% of Roma students funneled into underfunded special schools. Derdak recalls that just a decade ago, Roma children were still using separate utensils in schools—a modern form of “untouchability.”
In a city where 15% of the population is Roma, their presence isn’t often acknowledged. Derdak noted the challenges posed by the regime of Viktor Orban, which included drastic measures against schools like theirs, leading to years of financial struggles.
The school’s success is evident in its graduates. For instance, Kuru Janos joined the school at 16 with only a Class 6 education, later attending university and returning as a local leader. Others have entered social work or have taken roles within the school.
Derdak frequently quotes Ambedkar, stating, “I measure the progress of a community by what women have achieved.” In areas where the school has influenced, more girls are now pursuing education, and the trend of early motherhood is decreasing.
One significant detail Derdak shares is about the Roma flag, which features blue and green colors with a red wheel. Adopted at the first World Roma Congress in 1971, partly funded by the Indian government, the wheel symbolizes the Roma’s connection to their Indian roots. Derdak notes that while the Roma might not have known the term, they chose the wheel to express their identity.
As Hungary faces a political shift and the end of Orban’s regime, Derdak feels hopeful, proclaiming, “The dictatorship has fallen.” The journey for the Roma community continues as they embrace their heritage and look towards a brighter future.
