Mahli in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 4

Subgroup Name Population
Dom 1,400
Domra 1,400
Kisan 1,400
Turi 1,400

Introduction / History

The Munda-Santal of northeastern India and Nepal are comprised of nine different, but very closely related people groups. They are distributed politically throughout the states of Bihar, West Bengal, and Orissa, India. Most of the tribes live in the hilly areas of the Chotanagpur Plateau, located in southern Bihar. Others prefer living in the plains. Beyond this region, they have spread widely throughout India as agricultural and industrial laborers.

The seven groups who occupy territory farther north include the Santal (of India and Nepal), the Bhumij, the Koda, the Mahili, the Ho, and the Agariya. The two remaining groups, the Juango and the Gadaba, are located in the southern portion of India, nearer to the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The native language of the Munda-Santal, called Munda, belongs to the Austro-Asiatic language family.

Tribal culture among the Munda-Santal is quickly changing under the impact of external influences such as industrialization, new communication links, tribal welfare schemes, and community development projects.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditions regarding the origin of the Munda-Santal tribes are uncertain; but originally, the forested area of Chotanagpur was ruled by chiefs of various native tribes. Gradually, British authority was established in the plains.

There are records of a Munda revolt in 1831-1832 and a Santal rebellion of 1855-1858. Of the nine Munda-Santal groups, only the Bhumij have been rulers. For this reason, they claim a higher social status than the others.

Most of the Munda-Santal population depends on farming for survival. Some rural families depend on village or cottage industries such as weaving. They supplement their meager agricultural earnings with hunting and gathering.

Today, the government is trying to preserve forests, so cultivation shifting is limited. There is also an increase in the amount of irrigated land. As a result, other sources of income have been developed. They include such jobs as working in the tea plantations of the Northeast, working in the steel industry, or working as day laborers for local Hindu landowners. Since the Chotanagpur Plateau is the richest mineral belt in India, some of the Munda-Santal earn wages by mining. Both men and women work to bring home adequate income for their families.

Although very few of the tribes live by trade, some have traditional artisan or specialist occupations. Two such groups are the Koda, who are ditch diggers, and the Gadaba, who are known for their wall-paintings. Generally, though, Hindu artisans supply most of the tribes' needs.

The weekly market plays an important part in the economy of these tribes. For example, some Mahili sell their bamboo basketry in local markets.

Munda-Santal settlements are usually located in river valleys; deforested, eroded areas; and mineral and industrial belts. The majority of the people live in clustered villages or villages with one street.

The Munda-Santal are divided into clans which recognize a common ancestor. The clans often marry those who are from other tribes; however, there are smaller sub-tribes who are permitted to marry only those within their group. There is also a bachelor's dormitory, dhumkuria, in all Munda-Santal groups except the Juango.

The Munda-Santal have a rich artistic heritage, especially in music and dance. Most tribal villages have a dance floor where worship is offered by a village priest. Though the villages are run by "headmen," the panchayat (religious scholar or monk) is consulted concerning the most important matters. Most conflicts within the tribes concern land rights or marriage.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Munda-Santal tribes tend to preserve their own beliefs, values, and separate identity. In all of the groups, most are Hindus, while the others practice ethnic religions.

In Don Richardson's "Eternity In Their Hearts," we learn about their ancient God called Thakur Jiu, or "Genuine God." They thought that He had forgotten them because they had turned away from Him in fear of the Maran Buru, or "spirits of the great mountains." Their ancestors had made an oath with the Maran Buru when migrating to their present lands. They began to practice spirit appeasement, sorcery, and sun worship.

Today, their supreme god is the sun god. However, they have also adopted the Hindu deities in addition to tribal gods and goddesses. The Hindu village priest is the ritual specialist, and they observe many Hindu festivals. They do have a firm belief in an almighty creator and also in "mother earth."


What Are Their Needs?

In places where the Gospel is being preached to the Munda-Santal, the listeners almost immediately receive after the village council talks it over. These precious tribes are ripe unto harvest; they simply need people to show them the way to the true God!


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to India and Nepal and share Christ with these tribes.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will soften their hearts towards the Gospel.
Ask God to call out prayer teams to break up the soil through worship and intercession.
Ask God to encourage and protect the small number of Hindus who have converted to Christianity.
Pray that God will complete the work begun in the hearts of these believers through adequate discipleship.
Ask the Lord to raise up a triumphant Church among each of the Munda-Santal tribes for the glory of His name!


Scripture Prayers for the Mahli in India.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Mahli
People Name in Country Mahli
Alternate Names Mahali; Maheli; Mahili; Mahle; Maliare; Malyar; Mhali; Nai; Navi; Nhavi; महली
Population this Country 482,000
Population all Countries 525,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 10
People ID 13218
ROP3 Code 106041
ROP25 Code 304930
ROP25 Name Mahli (ST)
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Maharashtra
238,000
Jharkhand
181,000
Madhya Pradesh
26,000
Odisha
22,000
Bihar
4,900
Andhra Pradesh
3,700
West Bengal
3,100
Chhattisgarh
1,900
Assam
1,300
Andaman and Nicobar
500
Arunachal Pradesh
100
Delhi
80
Jammu and Kashmir
40
Tripura
30
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 14
  Maharashtra 238,000
  Jharkhand 181,000
  Madhya Pradesh 26,000
  Odisha 22,000
  Bihar 4,900
  Andhra Pradesh 3,700
  West Bengal 3,100
  Chhattisgarh 1,900
  Assam 1,300
  Andaman and Nicobar 500
  Arunachal Pradesh 100
  Delhi 80
  Jammu and Kashmir 40
  Tripura 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.46 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
2.24 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
84.15 %
Islam
0.11 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
13.02 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Marathi (200,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 42
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Sadri
46,000
Santhali
38,000
Hindi
33,000
Maithili
27,000
Mahali
25,000
Bengali
11,000
Odia
10,000
Mundari
3,900
Chhattisgarhi
1,900
Kurux
1,900
Panchpargania
1,800
Telugu
1,400
Sadri, Oraon
1,300
Ho
800
Munda
600
Primary Language Marathi (200,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 42
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Sadri 46,000
  Santhali 38,000
  Hindi 33,000
  Maithili 27,000
  Mahali 25,000
  Bengali 11,000
  Odia 10,000
  Mundari 3,900
  Chhattisgarhi 1,900
  Kurux 1,900
  Panchpargania 1,800
  Telugu 1,400
  Sadri, Oraon 1,300
  Ho 800
  Munda 600
People Groups Speaking Marathi

Primary Language:  Marathi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1807-1957)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1982)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1821-2022)
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Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
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Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
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Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
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General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Marathi YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Gerald Roberts 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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