SHAKIR PASHOV REMEMBERED AS ROMA LEADER IN BULGARIA
This day [25 Feb] just seventy years ago the first issue Romano esi appeared for sale in Bulgaria, thanks to the remarkable leadership of Shakir Mahmudov Pashov. He is remembered and honoured for much else as an early activist in the Romani movement.
Born in 1898, Pashov was already organizing at the age of 21 when he was instrumental in the foundation of a Muslim association. But it was shortly before the close of the 2nd World War that his leadership began to make its mark. Apparently without waiting for official approval Pashov with others announced on 6 March 1945 the creation of the union Ekhipe, which they saw as part of an effort to unite Roma around the world.
Although as researchers Elena Marushiakova and Veselin Popov point out no worldwide organization yet existed, Pashov's intentions closely mirrored those of Vaida Vojvod (Ionel Rotaru) who a decade later in Paris established Communaute Mondiale Gitane. Vaida travelled extensively in Eastern Europe promoting the ideal of Roma unity and expanding the network of the CMG. He may well have met with Pashov, although no such meeting is recorded.
The union in Bulgaria also had its parallel, though on a limited scale, in the setting up in 1948 of the Phralipe (Brotherhood) in neighbouring Macedonia. Both founded within largely Muslim communities, but not exclusive to them, they reflected the strong desire of Roma to reach across frontiers.
A few short years before, Macedonia had been occupied by pro-German Bulgarian troops. Now Roma like Pashov, and Fajk Abdi in Macedonia, had a vision of drawing Roma into a common movement. Both were at different times members of parliament and wielded great influence in their then separated constituencies.
Fortunately, the Balkan politics of the era favoured these ideas. Broz Tito, president of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria's Georgi Dimitrov looked on national minority movements with more tolerance and talked of a Balkan federation uniting the two countries. All went well in both for a while. In 1947 Pashov received the backing of the Communist-dominated Fatherland Front for a theatre and was able to stimulate the formation of Roma workers' co-operatives.
However, towards the end of the following year the Fatherland Front found fault with Ekhipe for "improper policy" and "working along their Gypsy minority lines". A clear echo of the Ekhipe constitution which defined its main aims as being to raise Romani national sentiment and work towards "developing a national home on their own land." Like Fajk Abdi in the 1970s, Pashov was brought down by accusations of financial irregularities. He was expelled from the Communist Party and spent several years in a prison camp on an island in the Danube.
In a final turn around, the once undaunted leader of Roma in Bulgaria was rehabilitated in 1957 and ten years later awarded the title "active fighter against fascism and capitalism". He died on 5 October 1981, just six months after the holding of the 3rd. World Romani Congress in Germany.