Abstract: Montong gypsy tribes are keeping impotent fact with the transit period in the society and culture of Bengali. The live in the outlaying part of Bangladesh, West Bengali and Assam earning by entertaining people with snake dance and nostrum. Now-a-days they are not seen like before as nomad. The peripatetic tribes are changing their habit and habited and merge themselves with the local trends. In this seminar, we try to find out about the transformation of Gypsy settlement.

1. Settlement Transformation
Of
Vedhe Gypsies
Department of Architecture
Leading University, Sylhet

2. Department of Architecture
Leading University, Sylhet
Course Code: ARCH-514
Course Tittle: Seminar II: Preparation
Submitted To,
Prof. Syeda Zarina Hossain
Professor
Department of Architecture
Ar. Rajon Das
Associate Professor & Head
Department of Architecture
Ar. Tanjima Siddika Chandni
Assistant Professor
Department of Architecture
Submitted by,
Md. Asmaul Hossen Kawsar
ID No: 1512040011

3. Contents
Topics Page No.
Abstract 04
1.0 Introduction 05
2.0 Background History 05
3.0 Methods and Methodology 06
4.0 Transformation motive
4.1 Awareness of Superstation
4.2 Life safety
4.4 Easy Medical Service
4.5 Spread of education
4.6 Industrialization:
4.7 Government policy:
06
07
07
07
07
07
07
5.0 Transformation Phases 08
5.1.0 Prephase
5.1.1 Settlement
5.1.2 Boat
5.1.3 Interior
5.1.4 Economy, Society and Culture
09
09
10
10
11
5.2.0 Metaphase
5.2.1 Settlement
5.2.2 Houses
5.2.3 Interior
5.2.4 Economy, Society and Culture
12
12
13
14
15
5.3.0 Moribund phase 15
6.0 Transformation Effects 15
7.0 Conservation Scopes 16
8.0 Conclusion 16
9.0 References 17

4. Abstract:
Montong gypsy tribes are keeping impotent fact with the transit period in the
society and culture of Bengali. The live in the outlaying part of Bangladesh, West
Bengali and Assam earning by entertaining people with snake dance and nostrum.
Now-a-days they are not seen like before as nomad. The peripatetic tribes are
changing their habit and habited and merge themselves with the local trends. In
this seminar, we try to find out about the transformation of Gypsy settlement.
Thanks to all faculty members of Architecture department, for their valuable advice
and guide me sincerely. Thanks to all who help me in physical survey time.
Keywords:
Gypsy, Tribe history, society and culture, settlement 4

5. 1.0 Introduction:
Gypsies are known as “vede”, “vedini”, “baidha” in local the term. The term “vede”
comes from the the word “bhaiddha” which locally means doctor. They travel in
groups and never stay in a place more than a couple of months. The majority of
vedes live on snake related trading, such as snake charming (trading), catching,
selling and nostrum etc. Many villagers believed in the magical power of gypsies.
Their trade has been effected by the modern science. Now-a-days people aren’t
interested to sept their service in place of modern a doctor. Snake charming is not a
popular game now. Those causes make their live hood hard and to maintain and
fulfil their needs. They are leaving their traditional boat life and going to the land in
search of a better livelihood.
2.0 Background History:
Vedhe gypsies are a portion of the “montong” indigenous tribe. They are very brave
and able in material arts and hunting. According to Banglapedia, the gypsies came
to Dhaka in 1638 with the King of Arkan Bollal Raja and in the later they converted
to Islam (Fig 01).
Fig 01
Migration of Montong 5

6. They first started to live in former Bikrompur which is known as Munshiganj a distric
of Dhaka division. Since then and letter spread to other parts of Bangladesh and
India. White coping with the modern changes in the society, the gypsies have
realized that there traditional profession is no longer light buy the people. As a
result, they have started to leave their lives on boats and now formed gypsy villages
in the different areas.
3.0 Methods and Methodology:
A few necessary approach are taken which are described in the following study. The
study target to find the settlement transformation motives, phases and after
effects.
In primary stage, we find the ethnic and historical study from books and media
source. Then we verify the information.
In second stage, we’ve done a physical survey to different gypsy area. Collect the
necessary data and information from their lifestyle and settlement and try to
understand the socio-economic and traditional activities and element.
Then all we analyze all data with consideration sites condition and find out different
crisis between their settlements, cultural and traditional activities. Different phases
are created to describe the settlement conditions.
In the ending part of paper we try to search the after effect of their settlement
transformation and to find out some better solution.
4.0 Transformation motive:
The history shown us about Montong that they have lived a nomad lifestyle from
our knowing past. When they were in this region they had kept that tradition. Not
only the tradition, earn from a same area is not easy. People are not attracted for
snake circus every day. They moved to attract more people for more profit. But
now-a-day’s digital technology are changing public prescription. They have to need
changing their earning methods. They are joining in the regular system of region
and for this why they need a permanent settlement which help to increase their
economic and social value. Here is some major issue for settlement transformation.
6

7. 4.1 Awareness of Superstation:
Before 21st century, people in Bengal believed that “Tandra” (A Spiritual power)
could solve our physical and metaphysical problems. The gypsies are represent
themselves as a trainer from “Kamrup Kamakha” (Assam) on Tandra. Now very few
people have faith in this method of heading.
4.2 Life safety:
Life on a boat is always risky. Though moving is important art for making more
income, in this century it has become obsolete. No one wants to take the risk of
living life on a boat.
4.3 Technology Development:
The use of technology have increased with time. People world-wide use the
benefits of technology. It is also a fact for transformation of gypsies.
4.4 Easy Medical Service:
A large part of their income source is from nostrum. They were called for medical
service specially for saving life from snake-bit. They’ve also sold tree parts such as
Cortex, Stem and bole with Amulets. But now medical service has become easy and
trustable more than nostrum.
4.5 Spread of education:
A bill has been passed under the leadership of Bongobondhu Shekh Mujibor
Rahman for universal free primary education. This is helping to get basic education
in the nation. The gypsies have accepted for all children this concept and
consciousness.
4.6 Industrialization:
It is easy to earn from working in an industry rather than travelling by boat. Gypsy
people choose to go to the city for living.
4.7 Government policy:
Department of Social Service under the government of People’s Republic
Bangladesh makes policy to fulfill their primary needs and improve socio-economic
and educational status. They obtained their nationality of Bangladesh and voting
rights from 2008.
7

8. Year Budget (taka)
2012-2013 66,00,000
2013-2014 7,96,68,000
2014-2015 9,22,94,000
2015-2016 18,00,00,000
2017-2018 20,00,00,000
2018-2019 50,00,00,000
The Chart 1 can help us understand about the awareness of government improving
lives of gypsies. As a result, they are coming land and building permanent
settlements.
Under the Prime Minister Shekh Hasina an amount of 6.6 million taka has been
allocated in 2012-2013. For the gypsies which increased up to 500 million in 2018-
2018 budget year.
5.0 Transformation Phases:
To know about their transformation, it is needed to conduct a physical survey
alongside the bank of the Padma River at Goyalondo, Konokshah in Sreenagar and
also surveyed from online/media at vedhepolli in Mirkadim of Munsiganj district of
Dhaka division. It has been found three phase of settlement transformation.
Prephase: Prephase means past phases. In this phases, peripatetic settlement
on boat will be described. The gypsies are highly conscious about their
traditional and cultural activities but lifestyle bellow the basic level.
Metaphase: It is an intermediate phase between prophase and moribund phase.
They’ve just came on the land from peripatetic boat life for a better life and
future. They are living with tolerable condition social traditional and economical
status.
Moribund phase: The gypsies who live in this phase, already marge themselves
with local settlement. Not only settlement, very few of them are aware about
their culture and tradition.
8
Chart 1
Allocated budget from 2012 to 2019

9. 5.1.0 Prephase:
The gypsies came to Dhaka in 1638 with the King of Arakan Bollal Raja and later
converted to Islam. They started to live in boat at former Bikrampur which is known
as Munsiganj.
A few family make a group under a group leader. Each family have their own boat.
They move once to other with the direction of their leader. When they find their
target place, boats tie up beside the ghat and spread out the area to earn.
5.1.1 Settlement:
They live in the boat and move once to other it cannot be possible to build any
permanent structure. They cook and make their crafts beside the river bank.
Fig 02
Peripatetic Settlement Beside River Bank
9

10. 5.1.2 Boat:
The boat is wooden, which is 12-14 feet in the length and 4-6 feet wide. The roof of
the boat is half oval shape and madden with bamboo structure which is covered by
bamboo mat and polythene. Very few groups add engine along with their boats.
The group leader boat is larger than usual boat of the group members.
Fig 03
Peripatetic Settlement Beside River Bank
5.1.3 Interior
The interior of Gypsies is interesting. They make it fit very tightly. Continuously they
keep themselves on move. Generally they don’t have property out of the boat. They
arrange everything in their boat which include their daily needs and other property.
10

11. Fig 04
Peripatetic Settlement Beside River Bank
5.1.4 Economy, Society and Culture:
The gypsies who lived in this phase are bellow in minimum level. In this
contemporary world it has become very tuff to earn from their traditional
profession but they’ve excellent unity between themselves. Chain of command is
maintained with respect. Every evening they park their boat beside the river bank
for a night, cook and eat and then celebrate their traditional “Jalsha” party. In the
morning they left the place and that time in mid river on the boat they sing their
traditional song,
ম োরো এক ঘোাঁটেটে রোন্দিভোরর আটরক ঘোটে খোই,
ও………………………….. ম োটের সুটখর সী ো নোই।
We cook a place and eat another
Oh…….. We feel happy so far.
11

12. 5.2.0 Metaphase:
In this phase, they’ve came on the land. The location of their settlements are beside
river or downtown. They make temporary settlement with local and low cost
materials. Most of their settlement are illegal. They set up in useless government
fallow land.
Fig 05
Settlement Beside River Bank
5.2.1 Settlement:
In this phase they live in an unstable settlement condition, they start to survive
from maverick to stable settlement. They are too much scattered in the pattern and
location.
12

13. Fig 06
First Settlement on land
Fig 07
First Settlement on land
5.2.2 House:
In the primary stage they move on with their basic material of boat, the oval shape
roof of boat are used to make their first house on the land (Fig:04).
13

14. In the second stage of metaphase, they make lost cost slum. They use local material
like wood, bamboo, CI sheet and tree leafs etcetera (Fig 08). Most of the time this
houses build in the low land and that’s why the plinth level of the houses become
high.
Fig 08
Settlement growing on land
5.2.3 Interior:
The interior of those houses are simple. In this time they use one or two handmade
furniture to keep necessary element. The number of furniture and interior material
increase with time.
14

15. 5.2.4 Economy, Society and Culture:
They always keep themselves trying to find out a better income source. The gypsies
who live beside village choose fishing, farming and vendor as their new profession,
the gypsies who live in countryside of town choose garments worker, vendor and
labor as their new profession. Traditional society system on the way to break. Many
of them are include themselves unethical profession such as drag, wine and brothel
business. All gypsies want to be independent, though they’ve a group leader chain
of command don’t work like before. They arrange their traditional “Jalsha” party
occasionally.
5.3.0 Moribund phase:
The gypsies who live in this phase, already marge themselves with local settlement.
Not only settlement, very few of them are aware about their culture and tradition.
Nothing to describe about them. They lost their traditional cultural elements and
identity. Most of them deny their gypsy identification and try to keep it hide. Their
settlement, house pattern, interior, society and cultural are same as local region.
6.0 Transformation Effects:
The globalization push the gypsies in the process to transformation. In general point
of view, the transformation give a better lifestyle to the gypsies. They and their next
generation will get better opportunity. They become as manpower. They keep sign
all sector successfully.
But it is true that with the transformation we are losing an ethnic group and their
traditional lifestyle and culture.
15

16. 16
7.0 Conservation Scopes:
The globalization push the gypsies in the process to transformation. If the process
will continue the Montong gypsies will lost forever in few decades. It is high time to
think about conservation traditional activities. Need proper collection of all
Scattered element across the country. It is good that some people are working on
this, some students already done their hypothesis on Montong Gypsies.
8.0 Conclusion :
Vedhe gypsies are a portion of the “montong” indigenous tribe. They were brave
and able in material arts and hunting. The gypsies came in this region and keep
their sign. . If the globalization process will continue the Montong gypsies will lost
forever in few decades. Need proper collection of all Scattered element across the
country. They should be not only a part of history, conservation their traditional and
historical elements is the demand of time.

17. 17
9.0 References
1. Ministry of finance
https://mof.gov.bd/site/view/budget_mof/%E0%A7%A8%E0%A7%A6%E0%A7%A7%E0%A7%AF-
%E0%A7%A8%E0%A7%A6/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9F%E0
%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%20%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%
A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0/Budget-in-
Brief
2. Munsiganj news
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLkskd4n7A4
3. Wikipedia
https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87
4. Banglapedia
http://bn.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87
5.The Daily Star (Youtube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0GdM6IjinA
5. Ministry of planning
http://www.dss.gov.bd/site/page/909e2813-4cbf-49a8-81bf-
12366bb20ee4/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%93-
%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%B0-
%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A0%E0%
A7%80%E0%A6%B0-
%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-
%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A8-
%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%9A%E0%
A6%BF
6. দেরনক জনকন্ঠ
http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/details/article/211791/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A6
%E0%A7%87-
%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0-
%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0-
%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%
A6%BE
7. যুগোন্তর
https://www.jugantor.com/todays-
paper/editorial/99863/%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6
%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%87-
%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87-
%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A6%E0
%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F
Ministry of Social Servicee https://msw.gov.bd/e3f3vert54gwt/fgrfedr454y6/gypsies

18. Settlement Transformation of Vedhe Gypsies
Department of Architecture
Leading University, Sylhet