Chanal in India

The Chanal 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

Traditionally the Chanal people were sharecroppers and agricultural laborers for the powerful Rajputs. They had a patron-client relationship with them then, and they still do today.

The Chanal people are scattered throughout India's northern mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are almost all rural dwellers who farm for a living. Under the nautor scheme, landless peoples like the Chanals were given land to farm, but the yield was so poor in this mountainous region that it wasn't sufficient for their needs. They have to make ends meet by working for others or doing petty business. Many of their children have to work. The Chanal people have benefitted from development projects in the last couple of decades. Projects have brought them electricity, drinking water, roads, post offices, banks, health care facilities and schools. Unfortunately, those from low class communities still suffer from a low literacy rate, and many are not aware of health care methods.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Chanal people are Hindu. Operation World tells us that there are only about one in 1,000 who follow Christ in Himachal Pradesh. The mountainous terrain makes it especially difficult for them to hear new ideas from outside. The Chanal people also speak their own dialect, which isolates them even further. They are among the most difficult people group to reach with the gospel.


What Are Their Needs?

The Chanal people need the opportunity to find the only Savior, Jesus Christ, who came that they might have life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord will somehow send his gospel message to the Chanal people in Himachal Pradesh.

Pray for loving workers who will work with the Chanal people until they have their own movement to Christ.

Pray for Chanal elders and leaders to open their hearts to the ways of Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Chanal in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Chanal
People Name in Country Chanal
Alternate Names Chunal; Hali; चानाल
Population this Country 29,000
Population all Countries 29,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16606
ROP3 Code 111812
ROP25 Code 301665
ROP25 Name Chanal
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 5
Largest States
Himachal Pradesh
29,000
Haryana
200
Punjab
100
Uttar Pradesh
70
Chandigarh
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 5
  Himachal Pradesh 29,000
  Haryana 200
  Punjab 100
  Uttar Pradesh 70
  Chandigarh 60
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
1.17 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.57 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.26 %
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 12
Secondary Languages
Mandeali
4,500
Chambeali
2,100
Kangri
2,000
Pahari, Mahasu
2,000
Punjabi, Eastern
1,500
Pahari, Kullu
1,500
Bhattiyali
1,400
Sirmauri
900
Churahi
200
Bilaspuri
200
Kinnauri
80
Primary Language Hindi (8,200 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
  Mandeali 4,500
  Chambeali 2,100
  Kangri 2,000
  Pahari, Mahasu 2,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 1,500
  Pahari, Kullu 1,500
  Bhattiyali 1,400
  Sirmauri 900
  Churahi 200
  Bilaspuri 200
  Kinnauri 80
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 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 for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024