Persian 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

Did you know that the lead singer of the rock group Queen, Freddy Mercury, was a descendant of Persians who live in India? Many Persians still practice the ancient Persian pre-Islamic religion of Zoroastrianism. They left Persia to escape Muslim persecution. Other Persians in India are Sunni Muslims fled Iran to leave the persecution by the majority Shia. Other Shia Muslim Persians came to India with Babar the founder of the Mughal Dynasty in 1525. The Parsis are some of the wealthiest, most successful people in India. Most speak Hindi, English and the local languages where they live.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Parsis own businesses and work in the professions. Parsi parents strongly encourage their sons and daughters to graduate from universities. They are among the best educated people in India. They are physicians, engineers, scientists, and leaders in finance. The Parsis tend to marry within their group although marry outside their people is becoming more common. They live in modern Indian cities yet at the same time endeavor to preserve their unique culture and customs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Persians typically follow Shia Islam or Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism is the ancient faith of Persia sometimes called "the religion of fire." The prophet Zoroaster began the religion back the in sixth century BC. He taught that life as a cosmological battle between the good, wise God and forces of evil. The good God will triumph in the end times according to their sacred writings. Modern scholars have a difficult time classifying Zoroastrianism since there is no one leader or uniform tradition. Zoroastrian theology features the importance of following the Threefold Path revolving around Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds. The believer is to practice charity and venerate nature as God's creation. Zoroastrians are typically against conversion. One must be born into a Zoroastrian family to participate in the religion.


What Are Their Needs?

The Persians need to hear about the true Prophet, Priest and King, Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and bring them into a personal, loving relationship with the God of the Bible. They need to understand that wealth and success will not bring them peace of mind or lasting joy.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Persians a willingness to search and find the true God. Pray for a disciple making movement that among the Persians in India this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Persian people and tell them about Jesus, the good news of God.


Scripture Prayers for the Persian in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Persian
People Name in Country Persian
Pronunciation PUR-zhun
Alternate Names Fars; Irani; पर्षियन
Population this Country 8,900
Population all Countries 46,396,000
Total Countries 42
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 14371
ROP3 Code 107987
ROP25 Code 306674
ROP25 Name Persian
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 21
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Maharashtra
3,900
Bihar
1,100
Gujarat
700
West Bengal
500
Uttar Pradesh
500
Madhya Pradesh
400
Delhi
400
Telangana
300
Tamil Nadu
300
Karnataka
200
Uttarakhand
100
Rajasthan
80
Andhra Pradesh
80
Jammu and Kashmir
70
Kerala
60
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 21  (only 20 largest shown)
  Maharashtra 3,900
  Bihar 1,100
  Gujarat 700
  West Bengal 500
  Uttar Pradesh 500
  Madhya Pradesh 400
  Delhi 400
  Telangana 300
  Tamil Nadu 300
  Karnataka 200
  Uttarakhand 100
  Rajasthan 80
  Andhra Pradesh 80
  Jammu and Kashmir 70
  Kerala 60
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Dari (7,700 speakers)
Language Code prs   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Persian, Iranian
20
Primary Language Dari (7,700 speakers)
Language Code prs   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Persian, Iranian 20
People Groups Speaking Dari

Primary Language:  Dari

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1974)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1982-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2008)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Dari Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Dari YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Dari YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Hamed Saber - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024