Question for Sep 21, 2010

X is a group of people believed to be part of the military in Northern India in the first millenium and after Mahmud Ghazni's raids, they were moved to the Byzantine Empire in the 11th century. The name X derives from the word ḍōmba, meaning a 'man of low caste living by singing and music'. While the South Asian origin of X is not in doubt, very recent findings suggest that they could be the descendents of the Jat people. Today, they are widely dispersed, with high concentrations in Europe. The X have faced widespread persecution over the centuries including forced slavery, ethnic cleansing, genocide by the Nazis and forced assimilation. Recently, the French authorities demolished many of their camps and began the process of repatriating them to their countries of origin, which prompted widespread criticism and threats of legal action.

Identify X.