Jaiswal Bania in India

The Jaiswal Bania 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

The name "Bania" is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language. The Jaiswal are a sub-group of the Bania peoples who live in India. Of the four major varnas (caste clusters of Hinduism), Banias are in the third one, the Vaishyas. They were usually traders of grain and spices throughout history.
Despite their high incomes, the Banias have only modest status in the Hindu caste pyramid. The Bania tend to resent the higher two varnas, the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas. Thus, Banias have often been leaders in caste reform movements. Mahatma Gandhi is one example, but there have been many others throughout India's long history.
There are many Bania groups, one of which is the Jaiswal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Ironically, the Banias are often resented by others. They are known to charge excessive interest rates. A pre-literate farmer might take a loan from a Bania only to find that a high percentage of his harvest will be taken away as interest. Customers often must put up their land and farms for collateral in case they cannot pay back their loans.
Jaiswal Bania children learn early to "never give; always bargain and make money." From an early age, children are drilled in math and detailed calculations with the purpose of getting the upper hand in business transactions. Fathers pass business skills to their sons. Jaiswal Bania parents strongly encourage their children, especially the boys, to obtain graduate degrees related to business.
Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm among Bania groups.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Jaiswals are Hindus who have not heard about the riches that God has stored up for them in heaven if they will turn their lives over to him. Instead, they usually worship Hindu gods and goddesses such as Ganesha, the one who helps overcome obstacles.


What Are Their Needs?

The Jaiswals generally do not feel the need for Christ. They need the desire to see beyond the natural world.


Prayer Points

Pray the Jaiswal Banias will hear about the greatest deal of all time: salvation through Jesus Christ.
Pray they will invest in the lives of others by spreading the gospel.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out dedicated workers to go to the Jaiswals and other Bania communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Jaiswal in India.


References

Some information from “The Scheduled Castes” K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bania Jaiswal
People Name in Country Bania Jaiswal
Natural Name Jaiswal Bania
Alternate Names बनिया, जायसवाल
Population this Country 143,000
Population all Countries 143,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
People ID 19700
ROP3 Code 115152
ROP25 Code 300836
ROP25 Name Bania
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 22
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Delhi
41,000
Uttar Pradesh
24,000
Maharashtra
21,000
Madhya Pradesh
15,000
Rajasthan
14,000
West Bengal
12,000
Gujarat
6,000
Jharkhand
2,300
Punjab
2,200
Andhra Pradesh
1,300
Karnataka
1,100
Assam
600
Odisha
600
Bihar
500
Uttarakhand
500
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 22  (only 20 largest shown)
  Delhi 41,000
  Uttar Pradesh 24,000
  Maharashtra 21,000
  Madhya Pradesh 15,000
  Rajasthan 14,000
  West Bengal 12,000
  Gujarat 6,000
  Jharkhand 2,300
  Punjab 2,200
  Andhra Pradesh 1,300
  Karnataka 1,100
  Assam 600
  Odisha 600
  Bihar 500
  Uttarakhand 500
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Other / Small
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
38.45 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
61.55 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (87,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 18
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Marwari
11,000
Marathi
8,600
Gujarati
5,100
Bengali
3,300
Konkani
2,900
Dhundari
2,000
Shekhawati
400
Braj Bhasha
200
Punjabi, Eastern
200
Bundeli
200
Kacchi
200
Malvi
100
Bagri
100
Mewari
70
Wagdi
60
Primary Language Hindi (87,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 18
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Marwari 11,000
  Marathi 8,600
  Gujarati 5,100
  Bengali 3,300
  Konkani 2,900
  Dhundari 2,000
  Shekhawati 400
  Braj Bhasha 200
  Punjabi, Eastern 200
  Bundeli 200
  Kacchi 200
  Malvi 100
  Bagri 100
  Mewari 70
  Wagdi 60
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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Photo Source Anonymous 
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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