Exploiting cultural heritage

A spoked-wheel image, representing a sixteen-spoked chakra, was adopted at the First World Romany Congress in London in 1971 as the international Romany symbol. The chakra is a link to the Indian origins of the Gypsies (the 24-spoked Ashok Chakra is in the centre of the national flag of India, the Tiranga) and represents movement and the original Creation. The green and blue flag with a red chakra in the centre was adopted as the Romany flag, as well as the motto "Opré Roma" (Roma Arise). The song "Gelem, gelem", also known as "Djelem, djelem" and "Opré Roma," was selected as the Romany anthem. April 8 was proclaimed International Romany Day. Among the chief goals of World Romany Congresses (four of them to date) are the standardisation of the Romany language, reparations from World War II, improvements in civil rights and education, preserving Romany culture, and international recognition of the Roma as a national minority of Indian origin. Among the chief Roma organisations, the International Romany Union has consultative status to the United Nations Social and Economic Council.