Sansi people

Sansi is a nomadic tribe, originally located in the Rajasthan area of northwestern India, but expelled in the 13th century by Muslim invaders and now spread to states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab as well as scattered throughout India. They are often confused with other ethnic groups called Sansi, as Sansi is a widespread name in South Asia.^[1][2]

Their language is Sansiboli, Sansi or Bhilki that is a highly endangered Indo-Aryan language of the Central group, total speakers ca. 60,000 (2002).^[3][4] Their traditional occupations vary, from trading to farming.

History

During British rule in India they were placed under the Criminal Tribes Act 1871, hence stigmatized for a long time,^[5] after independence however they were denotified in 1952.^[6]

References

1. Tribes of India By T. Baldizzone, Local Colour Ltd
2. Journal of Social Research By Council of Social and Cultural Research (Bihar, India), Ranchi University Dept. of Anthropology
3. Ethnologue.com: Ethnologue report for Sansi
4. Language in India: Endangered Language: A Case Study of Sansiboli
5. Punjab - Police and Jails The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1908, v. 20, p. 363.
6. Bania Arrested for Spying by Dilip D'Souza. Rediff.com, January 18, 2003