*The Forgotten Nomads:* Why the Banjara Language Deserves a Place in India's 8th Schedule?
This is my first article on the Banjara community, and I write it with a heavy heart to share my views on how our society has been rendered negligible, ignored, and stripped of our efforts by governments from the very beginning. As a proud Banjara, I've watched our rich culture, customs, and language—spoken by over 16 crore people across India—pushed to the margins, despite our immense historical legacy as resilient traders, warriors, and cultural custodians.
The 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution recognizes 22 languages, granting them official status and vital support. Originally listing just 14 languages when adopted on January 26, 1950, it has expanded through amendments to include Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. Remarkably, languages like Dogri and Bodo, spoken by only 40-50 lakh people, secured this honor. Yet, Gor Boli—the vibrant language of the Banjaras—remains excluded, despite our massive population and distinct heritage. This is a glaring injustice by both central and state governments.
Official recognition would unlock immense benefits: state funding for development, usage in administration, education, and politics, including public employment exams. Imagine Banjara children accessing mother-tongue education or our elders participating in governance without linguistic barriers. Instead, we're sidelined, our efforts looted while smaller communities thrive.
Why has this happened?
Two major reasons stand out.
First, the Banjara community is fragmented by names across states, leading governments to mistakenly treat us as separate groups. In censuses and policies, this dilutes our numbers and visibility. Our synonyms include:
Gor/Gour (meaning "own people")
Gor Banjara
Lambadi/Lambada (common in Andhra Pradesh/Deccan)
Lambani/Lamani (Karnataka)
Labana/Laban (salt traders)
Vanjari/Wanjari (Maharashtra)
Banjari
Brinjari
Sugali (Andhra Pradesh)
Baladiya (from "balad," meaning oxen)
Gawaria/Gawar (Rajasthan/Haryana)
Nayak
Gour Rajput
Rajput Banjara
Ladaniya
Badi
Shingadya
These 17 identities represent one community, yet officials assume otherwise, ignoring us everywhere—from welfare schemes to reservations.
Second, Gor Boli lacks a standard script. As an oral language, it's often transcribed in local scripts like Telugu, Kannada, or Devanagari. Official recognition typically demands a written form, a hurdle we're overcoming. Scholars from various states are developing a dedicated Banjara script, and we eagerly await a positive government response.
The Banjaras' history—from ancient caravan traders linking India's heartlands to Mughal allies and freedom fighters—demands justice. Central and state governments must unite these identities, support our script, and add Gor Boli to the 8th Schedule. Our 16 crore voices can no longer be silenced. It's time to recognize us—not as fragments, but as a vital thread in India's diverse tapestry.
With regards
Eslavath Mohan Naik
National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)
