Badhik in India

The Badhik have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Badhik people live in north central India. Traditionally they hunted animals and trapped birds and sold them for their livelihood. Now they work as butchers and as landless agricultural laborers. The Badhik claim to be Sudras, the fourth level in the Hindu caste system. But the majority of the Hindus treat them as a low class community, a people outside the caste system. The Badhik receive discrimination from society even though it is illegal in India. The Badhik are classified as a scheduled caste which allows them certain government jobs and special places in university admissions.

The main language of the Badhik is Hindi. Many resources are available in Hindi including a complete Bible, radio programs and the JESUS Film. There are few if any Badhik believers.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Badhik offer their services for the ceremonial slaughter of animals for Hindu holidays. They marry within their community but not within the same clan. Marriage to one spouse is the norm. Badhik tend to have large families. Rural villages often lack access to modern medicine and clean water. Child mortality is high. Children frequently quit school after a few years to help support their families. Being Hindu, they do not eat beef.

Unfortunately, many Badhik are unable to read and write. Some Badhik men receive a secondary education and work in government jobs.

The Badhik make leather items from the hides they tan. Many Badhik who are not butchers or leather workers farm land owned by others. As sharecroppers they are frequently in debt. Some young people are moving from the villages to Indian cities searching for a better life. Since most Badhik lack job skills they are forced to take the lowest paying jobs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Badhik people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

This small, low status caste has a low literacy rate, and virtually no access to the gospel message. The Badhik need good schools and new job skills. Most of all they need to hear and respond to the good news about Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and give them a sure hope for the future.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord will prepare the hearts of the Badhik for the gospel.

Ask the Lord to send Christian workers to the Badhik.

Pray for Holy Spirit to raise up a growing church among the Badhik in this decade.

Pray that Badhik parents will be able to provide for their children.


Scripture Prayers for the Badhik in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badhik

https://www.indianetzone.com/80/badhak_community.htm


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Badhik
People Name in Country Badhik
Alternate Names Hindu Kasai; बधिक
Population this Country 11,000
Population all Countries 11,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16274
ROP3 Code 111399
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 2
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
10,000
Uttarakhand
400
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 2
  Uttar Pradesh 10,000
  Uttarakhand 400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.97 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.03 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (8,200 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Kanauji
800
Bhojpuri
200
Garhwali
70
Primary Language Hindi (8,200 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Kanauji 800
  Bhojpuri 200
  Garhwali 70
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)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
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 Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024