Karana Gujarati in Madagascar


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Like the other Gujaratis in East Africa, this people group arrived during British colonial days. Some held manual labor jobs like other South Asian migrants, but there were many businessmen and merchants among them. They first arrived in Madagascar in the 1880s in Mahajanga, a port town. They traded in slaves. In the 1970s, the Madagascar government nationalized all businesses, forcing most Gujarati business families to leave the country. Those who stayed had to start all over from scratch. Usually these were the less educated. In time, the Gujaratis were back, and today they control 50-60 percent of Madagascar's economy.`The Gujaratis are usually living in Antananarivo centered around Tsaralalana. Others live in port towns where they conduct trade.


What Are Their Lives Like?

One thing that is different about the Gujaratis in Madagascar is that they are usually Muslim, not Hindu. They are from the Khoja, Ismaili, and Daudi Bohra communities, all of which are solidly Muslim. There are some Hindu Gujaratis in Madagascar as well. Today the Gujaratis in Madagascar are involved with retail shops, travel, hotels, textiles, and import/export businesses.


They are usually Hindu, but a significant minority is Muslim.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Gujarati in diaspora serve the great god of mammon whether they are Hindu or Muslim. Most of them in Madagascar are Muslim, a religion followed by many in that island nation. They agree to the basic tenets of Islam, some attend mosque and, with their wealth, they are likely to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca.


What Are Their Needs?

In most countries where there are Gujarati communities, there are no missionary agencies focusing taking Christ to them. The Bible is available in their language, but the Gujarati must see Christianity lived out. There will be obstacles to those who want to take Christ to these highly unreached Hindus. As it stands, there are very few who will dare to take that step.


Prayer Points

Pray for an intense spiritual hunger among these Hindus that will draw them into the loving arms of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Gujarati in Africa.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to Christ among Gujaratis throughout East Africa that will result in them experiencing the intense blessings of Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Gujarati, Karana in Madagascar.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Gujarati
People Name in Country Gujarati, Karana
Natural Name Karana Gujarati
Pronunciation goo-jah-RAH-tee
Alternate Names Bajania; Gujarani; Indo-Pakistani; Karana; Parsi; Shahinshahi; Zarabe; Zardasht; Zarushti
Population this Country 98,000
Population all Countries 3,464,000
Total Countries 29
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 11982
ROP3 Code 103544
ROP25 Code 302844
ROP25 Name Gujarati
Country Madagascar
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Madagascar
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
15.00 %
Islam
80.00 %
Non-Religious
5.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Gujarati (98,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Gujarati (98,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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