Andh in India

The Andh have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

Most likely the Andh people originated from the Satavahanas Dynasty, which lasted from the second century BC through the early third century AD. This Satavahanas kingdom straddled modern day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. The Satavahanas king claimed all the forests and good land in this region until it was taken over by the East India Company during British colonial days. The Andh people had very little wealth during this time. The Andh people are among what the Indian government calls the "scheduled tribes. " Because scheduled tribes are underdeveloped, the Indian government has attempted to bring them into the mainstream of political and economic life. In 1949, tribes were "scheduled" for special treatment. Most still live mainly in the three states, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. They are most likely to be found in the Adilabad District of Andhra Pradesh, though they also live in four other districts of this state. Their language is Marathi, the primary language of Maharashtra.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Scheduled tribes like the Andh who practice crop rotation usually live near the plot of land they are cultivating. They clear the land by burning off its vegetation. They use simple tools to prepare the ground, then plant the crops. They select a new plot after the harvest. Their primary crops include grains and fruit. Sometimes they supplement their diet with forest produce. Others earn extra income by hiring themselves out as farm laborers. The basic unit of Andh society is the family. One key aspect of their communities involve marriage customs. Most scheduled tribes are endogamous, which means that they only marry within their own social groups. The young people are free to choose their own marriage partners, although many still seek parental advice. A few of the tribes still require a bride price for the girl's family. Sometimes it is very costly involving a great amount of work and sacrifice on the part of the groom's family to accumulate enough funds. The clan is next to the family in terms of importance for the Andh people. A clan is composed of several families who are the descendants of a common ancestor. All members of the clan join together to help the family in need when there is a death. Many clans often work together as a single unit to make the best use of their farmland and family property.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Scheduled tribes like the Andh people have been heavily influenced by their more powerful Hindu neighbors. As a result, they have given up a number of their traditional customs and now imitate many Hindu customs, particularly those of the Brahmins (highest caste of Hindu priests and scholars). Although many remnants of their ethnic religions are evident, the tribes are considered Hindu. By it's nature, Hinduism is flexible enough to allow for ancient ethnic religious practices to continue without someone being considered to be outside the Hindu sphere. This greatly adds to the diversity of Hinduism since most ethnic groups have their own religious traditions.


What Are Their Needs?

All scheduled tribes need practical help, especially in the areas of agriculture, education and health care. Medical supplies and qualified doctors and nurses are severely lacking in the remote areas. Perhaps Christian teachers and medical teams will have opportunities to show these precious Andh people the love of Jesus in practical ways.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Andh culture to be renewed and enhanced by a work of the Holy Spirit and shaped into a God-centered and God-honoring mold. Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Andh family and community leaders to seek his face and enjoy His blessings. Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will be compelled to nurture a movement to Christ among the Andh people. Pray that soon the Andh people will have faith that will lead them to live honorable lives that will draw others to the Savior.


Scripture Prayers for the Andh in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Andh
People Name in Country Andh
Alternate Names Andha; Binjhwar; Kondareddi; अंध
Population this Country 580,000
Population all Countries 580,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 12
People ID 16215
ROP3 Code 111326
ROP25 Code 300302
ROP25 Name Andh (Andha)
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 11
Largest States
Maharashtra
562,000
Telangana
15,000
Karnataka
1,400
Andhra Pradesh
400
Madhya Pradesh
300
Gujarat
300
Delhi
200
Chhattisgarh
100
Dadra and Nagar Have
50
Goa
20
Kerala
20
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 11
  Maharashtra 562,000
  Telangana 15,000
  Karnataka 1,400
  Andhra Pradesh 400
  Madhya Pradesh 300
  Gujarat 300
  Delhi 200
  Chhattisgarh 100
  Dadra and Nagar Have 50
  Goa 20
  Kerala 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.16 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.20 %
Islam
0.16 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
0.44 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Marathi (364,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 26
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Andh
121,000
Telugu
1,500
Hindi
1,500
Kannada
700
Konkani, Goan
200
Gondi, Northern
100
Kolami, Northwestern
100
Tamil
100
Urdu
100
Gujarati
80
Bengali
70
Gondi, Aheri
50
Gondi, Adilabad
50
Bhili
40
Khandesi
40
Primary Language Marathi (364,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 26
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Andh 121,000
  Telugu 1,500
  Hindi 1,500
  Kannada 700
  Konkani, Goan 200
  Gondi, Northern 100
  Kolami, Northwestern 100
  Tamil 100
  Urdu 100
  Gujarati 80
  Bengali 70
  Gondi, Aheri 50
  Gondi, Adilabad 50
  Bhili 40
  Khandesi 40
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 Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
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Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Marathi Jesus Film Project
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General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Marathi YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Tekam Tulsiram - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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