Saleem slaps dough between his palms. Quickly the ball flattens and grows longer. Automatically he slaps the thin naan (bread) to the side wall inside his tandoor oven.
Saleem works on the street. He uses his bare hands to knead the dough, slap it into shape, and attach it in the oven. Soon he removes the steaming bread and serves me. His last name, Nanbai, tells me he comes from a community where fathers teach their young sons how to make naan. Likely, he will spend his life making naan, for he is a master at his craft. All countries in the sub-continent thrive on naan.
I comment, "Saleem, you are Muslim. Yet the Hindus accept you." He replies, "Sir, yes. I am Muslim. But my bread does not know the difference between Muslim and Hindu. We practice our faith in this Hindu country. As long as we do not cause problems for the Hindus, they allow us our religion."
The Nanbai form a tiny community in Nepal. Most of their people group lives in Pakistan or India. Muslim Nanbais are even rarer, for their people are mostly Hindu.
Pray that Bibles, Christian literature, and gospel recordings will find their way to Saleem and his fellow Nanbai bread makers.
Pray that the Bread of Life, Jesus, will reveal himself to this isolated group.
Scripture Prayers for the Nanbai in Pakistan.
Profile Source: Global Prayer Digest |
People Name General | Nanbai |
People Name in Country | Nanbai |
Alternate Names | Nanbar; Nanpaz; नंबई |
Population this Country | 16,000 |
Population all Countries | 32,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 17759 |
ROP3 Code | 113218 |
ROP25 Code | 305861 |
ROP25 Name | Nanbai |
Country | Pakistan | |||
Region | Asia, South | |||
Continent | Asia | |||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||
National Bible Society | Website | |||
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||
Total States on file | 3 | |||
Largest States |
|
Country | Pakistan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 3 |
Sindh 9,200 | |
Punjab 6,400 | |
Islamabad 100 | |
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 Pakistan census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Sindhi (5,800 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | snd Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 7 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Sindhi (5,800 speakers) |
Language Code | snd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 7 |
Secondary Languages | |
Urdu 3,600 | |
Saraiki 3,200 | |
Punjabi, Western 2,800 | |
Dhatki 300 | |
Marwari 100 | |
Pahari-Potwari 60 | |
People Groups | Speaking Sindhi |
Primary Language: Sindhi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1825-1981) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1890-1992) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1954) |
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 |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Global Prayer Digest |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |