Ritual purity in Romani communities

The thesis "Ritual purity in Romani Communities" compares indian socio-cultural figures with romani ones and demonstrates that concept of ritual purity and pollution has probably its roots in indian caste system. The main marks of indian caste as well as closed romani community are: endogamy, specific group-profession, residential segregation, strick rules for contact and commensality with members of other groups, taboos relevant to some people, animals, things, parts of body and activities. The thesis describes control mechanisms such as romani tribunal or social control and talks about the process of Sanskritization. The author believes that all romani communities share awareness of potential ritual pollution hence it is possible to consider concept of ritual pollution to be a part of collective romani identity