The Saraniyas   hail from Rajasthan and as the belief goes had the responsibility of sharpening and maintaining the weaponry of Maharana Pratap’s army. But with the consequent turn of events following the defeat and death of Rana Pratap, they never went back to Chittorgarh, instead, they started roaming from one village to another, sharpening knives and agricultural tools.

As Dream Becomes Reality -Weddings of Saraniya Girls of Vadia

A glorious life full of color, reverence, honor, prosperity and abundance now reduced to extreme poverty, shambles and sheer deprivation is certainly how we can describe the current condition of the Nomadic and De-notified communities across Gujarat.  It has been a continuous down-fall for the communities that were once respected for their loyalty, fearlessness, skills and art.

‘We Also Exist’ - A mega convention by Nomadic and De-Notified Communities

The floods of 2015 and 2017 in Banaskantha have proved to be turbulent for the nomadic families living in the region. The families that barley had anything of their own to those who were building their lives, all suffered heavy losses. VSSM was thronged by the requests for help and support both immediate and long term.

When unprecedented calamites snatch away everything but hope, humility and generosity