Biography
Borislav Marić was born on October 25, 1996, in Prnjavor, where he completed his primary and secondary education. From an early age, he showed a keen interest in language, history, and culture, which guided his further academic development. He graduated from the Faculty of Philology with a particular interest in the humanities and social sciences, developing a critical approach to studying historical processes and cultural phenomena. He is currently employed at the "Ivo Andrić" Secondary School Center in Prnjavor.
During and after his studies, he focused his research activities on the culture of remembrance, Romani studies, the Romani genocide, and the Holocaust. He pays special attention to the study of the Porajmos/Samudaripen—the suffering of the Romani people during World War II—striving to contribute to the greater visibility and understanding of this tragic part of history, which is often underrepresented in public discourse. He has over five years of active experience in researching the Holocaust and the Porajmos/Samudaripen.
As a researcher of the Romani suffering and an exceptional admirer of the history, culture, and heritage of the Romani and Jewish peoples, he seeks to combine a scientific approach with social responsibility, emphasizing the importance of preserving historical truth and the dignity of the victims. His interests also include comparative genocide studies, with a special focus on the mechanisms of discrimination, persecution, and the suffering of minority communities. He has participated in numerous international symposia, courses, and trainings dealing with the Holocaust and the Porajmos. He is a committed advocate of lifelong learning.
Active in the field of writing and research, he contributes to the development of the culture of remembrance through professional and publicist works. His texts address themes of historical justice, collective memory, and the role of education in preventing revisionism and oblivion. He particularly emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to these topics, incorporating language, history, sociology, and cultural studies.
As a proponent of preserving the culture of remembrance, he advocates for raising awareness of the past's significance in shaping modern society. He believes that nurturing the memory of suffering is a prerequisite for building a more tolerant and just world, where diversity is respected and the dignity of every individual is protected.
PORAJMOS
Abstract: The Holocaust represents the systematic and organized persecution and destruction of millions of people during World War II, carried out by the Nazi regime in Germany along with its allies and collaborators. Although most commonly associated with the suffering of the Jewish people, the Holocaust encompassed many other groups deemed "undesirable" or "inferior" by the Nazis. Among them were the Roma, Sinti, persons with disabilities, political opponents of the regime, Slavic peoples, and many others. These persecutions were the result of a racist ideology seeking to create a society based on alleged racial "purity." Within this broader system of persecution lies the Porajmos, a term used to denote the genocide of the Roma and Sinti during World War II. In the Romani language, the word "Porajmos" means "the devouring" or "destruction," symbolically describing the tragedy that befell the Romani people during this period. Under Nazi rule, the Roma were subjected to systematic discrimination, persecution, deportations, and mass killings. Many were taken to concentration camps, where they endured inhumane living conditions, forced labor, medical experiments, and ultimately, mass murder. Historical sources indicate that hundreds of thousands of Roma across Europe perished during the Porajmos. Families were separated, entire communities destroyed, and countless individuals lost their lives solely because of their origin and identity. One of the most tragic symbols of this suffering is the liquidation of the "Gypsy family camp" at Auschwitz, where thousands of Roma were murdered in a single night. These events represent a deep wound in the history of the Romani people and serve as a warning to all of humanity. Although the Holocaust has been extensively researched and documented, the suffering of the Roma remained on the margins of historical research and public memory for a long time. For this very reason, I believe it is vital to speak more about the Porajmos in educational and public spaces to pay proper respect to the victims and contribute to a better understanding of history. Raising awareness of these events is important not only for the sake of the past but also for the present and the future, as history teaches us how dangerous prejudice, discrimination, and hatred can be. Through this presentation, I aim to depict the historical context of these crimes while emphasizing the significance of the culture of remembrance. Remembering the victims of the Holocaust and the Porajmos is not only a historical obligation but a moral duty of every society. Only through education, dialogue, and research can we ensure that such crimes are never repeated.
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