Jai Bhim Network

Janos Orsos tells of his life and struggles as a European Dalit.

I am a gypsy. I was born and brought up in Hungary, but I do not consider myself a Hungarian - I am a gypsy. Let me explain what that means. Many people think that gypsies are nomadic, but the great majority of gypsies in Eastern Europe are settled. They live mainly in villages, but right on the edge, in segregated streets. Hungary is a western country, viewed from the third world, but the gypsies here live like people in the third world. They live in streets or neighbourhoods where there is no tap water, no street lighting, no sewage - but if you go just a few metres away to the non-gypsy streets next to them you will find all these facilities.

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Your Excellency
President of Hungary Sólyom László,

We write to you requesting that you grant Varga Dénes an official pardon. Varga Dénes was sentenced to one year in prison in 2008, which became a highly known and well-publicized sentencing because of Népszabadság’s December 31st issue from the same year. He has been charged with illegally wiring electricity to his home after all service was cut. The onslaught of negative attention has caused much distress for Varga Dénes during these last several months. He is the patriarch of his household, rearing six children and has not been able to find gainful employment for quite some time because of both the libel and slander of his name. What’s worse is that he’s been labeled, as a vagrant within the media, making it even more difficult to find a job that allows him to effectively support is family. Even with his current employment, his financial viability falls well below that of the national level for being able to pay is monthly electricity bills. Much like many other residents of Sajókaza, the electric company completely removed all meters and supplies for servicing electricity to homes, in 2006. Since that time, there have been many makeshift attempts to rewire power lines by residents of Sajókaza so that they might once again have basic lighting for their everyday tasks.

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Hi Mayur,

Let me introduce myself first. My name is Amrita (Indian, from Bihar) and I am currently a student at Central European University in Budapest. You must be wondering how instead of Tibor its me who is
replying to your mail. So, here is the story. I have been in touch with Tibor and his organisation since Christmas last year i.e. 2008. I came to know them through a common friend Swati and visited them to
celebrate Christmas. I took on a small assignment i.e. teach English to Roma women associated with the organization during the weekend. It is my first day on the teaching job and Tibor asked me to write to you sharing my experiences till now.

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The members of the „Dana Mudra” Congregation participated in a public audience initiated by the local government on 1 December 2008.

It was the first time the women of the “Sólyom” Gypsy settlement had represented their interests in an organized way. In that occasion the mayor of the village declared that he and the local government were going to cooperate with us for the reconstruction of the road in mud at “Sólyom telep”.

The Congregation also elected its own leaders. The work of Rusznyák Gusztávné Váradi Éva will be assisted by Rácz János and Lakatos Gábor.

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Ambedkerite movement Started in Hungary

In 16 June 2007,I was invited by Derdak Tibor and Orsos Janos in Hungary to see the Gypsy people and their life.I Stayed in my friend Orosos Janos house.Derdak Tibor and Orsos Janos want to make strong relation with the T.B.M.S.G.Buddhist community. So that they have invited me there to see the same problems they have which we Dalit people was experience 75 years ago.T.B.M.S.G. is Buddhist Ambedkarites movement.Orsos Janos want to establised like this organisation in hungary for the Roma/Gypsy people.Orsos Janos is the founder president of “Jaibhim Network”.Derdak Tibor and Orsos Janos work together for the Gypsy poor people to uplift their living standard.

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