DR.W.R.RISHI
1917 - 2002
Father of the Romani flag
HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD ROMANI CONGRESS
by Grattan Puxon
In the yet unpublished history of the political struggle of the Roma the name of W.R.Rishi, who died on Sunday, I December, must be
written large. Born in the Punjab, the "Land of the Five Rivers" of
Romani legend, Rishi became the living link between the Romani people
and the ancient motherland of India.
Following a distinguished career in the Indian foreign service, Rishi
dedicated decades of his inspired life to the promotion of Roma in the
Diaspora as a national minority of Indian origin - a vital step towards
full nationhood recognition.
He came to prominence in l971as a participant in the 1st World Romani Congress, while still holding an appointment at the Indian High Commission in London. Consulted by Roma delegates, it was Rishi
who helped settle the design of the Romani national flag, embossed
henceforward with a red ashok chakra, the wheel of destiny.
The following year, Rishi spent time at the Romani township of Suto
Orizari, in the Republic of Macedonia. Here in a famous speech he told a crowd of thousands, "Amaro rat thaj tumaro rat jekh si".
Later, Rishi founded the Indian Institute of Romani Studies at Chandigarh and established ROMA , a half-yearly journal. He went on
to take part in several subsequent Congresses and was elected a member, and eventually Hon.President for life of the International Romani Union.
His publications include a Romani dictionary, a Romani-Punjabi phrase
book and dictionary, Roma: the Punjabi Emigrants and India & Russia:
Linguistic & Cultural Affinity. The last won him the Soviet Land Nehru
Award in l983, and he was later awarded the title Padmashri, as a linguist, and Brahmarshi, as well as becoming Shiromani Sahitkar, Honoured Litterateur.
Perhaps his crowning achievement, however, in addition to the
foundation of Nehru Romano Kher, the museum in Chandigarh,
was organisation of the International Roma Festivals, the second of which in l983 was opened by the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs Indira Gandhi. On Roma National Day, 8 April this year, at a River Ceremony on the Ghaghar, Mr Rishi inaugurated world-wide celebrations marking the Millennium Jubilee of the original migrations of Roma from India.
Rishi's greatest legacy to us is his son Veerendra, upon whose willing shoulders his mantel has fallen. Achel Develsa.
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