Korku in India


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

Subgroups: 5

Subgroup Name Population
Bopchi 49,000
Bondeya 26,000
Bundhi 26,000
Ruma 11,000
Nahura Unknown

Introduction / History

Korkus are Adivasis (tribals) who never complain. The Korkus in Maharashtra, India came into the world's media spotlight in 1992. BBC came into the interior villages, reporting on children belonging to Korku tribe starving as the outside world looked on in amazement. Help came in the form of food packets and medicines through World Health Organization. Many voluntary organizations stepped in to help with similar measures. Today these incidents have long been forgotten. Awagad is one of the Korku villages. They live mainly in Central India, but some live in Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

These low status people earn very little money. Each week they sell what they can produce through vegetables, the firewood they gather in the forests, and other commodities. Those with more power take from them much of what they earn. If the Korku manages to offer a chicken or a bottle of country liquor to a forestry official, he may be exempted from a government fine. Every year during the harvest, each Korku family has to supply 5 kilos of grain to the forest guards - another example of exploitation. Korku in Awagad live in literal darkness, in the absence of electric supply. Many years before, electric supply had been extended to the village. Because of the objection of the forest department, electric lines were never completed because they might touch a tree and start a fire. In Makla village, situated 11 km away from Semoda, condition was even worse. Electricity had not reached there. The ill-fated villagers have to go to Churnia, another hill town, trekking many miles to buy kerosene, that too at a double price. Korkus found it easier to keep wood burning all night to keep the village lit. In summer, people of Awagad feel an acute shortage of water. Two wells dug by the government were dried up. Tube well, which was dug a year back, was not functioning. Once in a while, a wobbling truck loaded with water reaches there. Since the plastic tank setup for emptying the trucks was flown away, the remaining water had to be released to one of the dried well. They have a small school with two classrooms. Pupils up to fourth standard are supposed to be taught there. After receiving the appointment order and working for two months, the teacher went home and never to be returned. In Awagad there were neither ration depots (fair price shops for the poor) nor public health centers. Some doctors frequent there seeking patients selling medicines and treat all sicknesses. According to government records, many roads, bridges and buildings were constructed. But all these were alleged to be swept away in the rains. Wooden pillars erected from the floor are the main base for their houses. The roof is thatched with bamboo frames and handmade tiles. Bamboo mats form the skeleton of the walls, then smeared with mud. Korku Village Mission had been in existence 100 years ago in Chikaldara focusing on Korku tribes. Korku Baptist Mission, founded by Americans with their mission compound and activities were withdrawn in late 40s handing over the responsibility to the Baptist Church Association at the district headquarters. In 1981, Indian Evangelical Mission (IEM) took over this field and began an outreach training institute in Chikaldara. The missionaries who were trained there worked among many tribes and communities in general and Korkus in particular.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Korku people need education, better health care, and political empowerment to rise above the cycle of exploitation.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love. Pray that the Korku people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings. Pray for workers who are driven by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them. Pray for a movement to Christ among them to begin this decade. Source Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Scripture Prayers for the Korku in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Korku
People Name in Country Korku
Pronunciation KOOR-koo
Alternate Names Bondhi; Bopchi; Kodaku; Kurku; Mouasi; Muwasi; कोरकु
Population this Country 1,199,000
Population all Countries 1,205,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 24
People ID 17269
ROP3 Code 112639
ROP25 Code 304216
ROP25 Name Korku
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 9
Largest States
Madhya Pradesh
838,000
Maharashtra
309,000
Assam
50,000
Arunachal Pradesh
800
Chhattisgarh
700
Odisha
300
Jharkhand
200
Bihar
100
Nagaland
100
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 9
  Madhya Pradesh 838,000
  Maharashtra 309,000
  Assam 50,000
  Arunachal Pradesh 800
  Chhattisgarh 700
  Odisha 300
  Jharkhand 200
  Bihar 100
  Nagaland 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.02 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.32 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.39 %
Islam
0.15 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.12 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Korku (632,000 speakers)
Language Code kfq   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 54
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
283,000
Assamese
29,000
Korwa
21,000
Marathi
18,000
Bengali
6,800
Malvi
4,800
Gondi, Northern
4,700
Khandesi
3,400
Bhili
2,200
Gujarati
1,200
Bareli, Rathwi
1,100
Nimadi
800
Kuvi
400
Bhilali
200
Odia
100
Primary Language Korku (632,000 speakers)
Language Code kfq   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 54
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 283,000
  Assamese 29,000
  Korwa 21,000
  Marathi 18,000
  Bengali 6,800
  Malvi 4,800
  Gondi, Northern 4,700
  Khandesi 3,400
  Bhili 2,200
  Gujarati 1,200
  Bareli, Rathwi 1,100
  Nimadi 800
  Kuvi 400
  Bhilali 200
  Odia 100
People Groups Speaking Korku

Primary Language:  Korku

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1900-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2018)
Bible-Complete No
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 Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Korku Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Photo Source Ramesh Lalwani - Flickr  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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