Qalaigar in India

The Qalaigar 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 Qalaigar people are a Muslim people of India whose traditional occupation was making and repairing copper pots, pans and utensils. A "qalai" is a thin sheet of tin placed upon the utensil. The two main languages of the Qalaigar are Urdu and Gujarati. Many Christian resources are available in both languages.


Where Are they Located?

This Muslim people group lives in Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The tinning process involves working with acids, chemicals and breathing in poisonous fumes. As a result, many Qalaigar young people are choosing different professions. Some young Qalaigar men have become taxi drivers and small businessmen to avoid the potentially dangerous job of their fathers.

The Qalaigar marry within their group. A Qalaigar man may have up to four wives but one wife is the norm. Families arrange marriages. Sons inherit the property and business of their father.

The main foods of the Qalaigar are rice, lentils, vegetables, fruit, and dairy products. As Muslims, they will not eat pork.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Qalaigar people are Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. They believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoken through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols.

The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.


What Are Their Needs?

The Qalaigar need access to modern medicine as their traditional occupation can lead to serious health issues. They need to learn new job skills so that they can advance in Indian society. Most of all, the Qalaigar need to hear and respond to the message of Isa or Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and get them right with the one, true God.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Muslim Qalaigar people for Jesus.
Pray that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Qalaigar families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Qalaigar people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Qalaigar in India.


References

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-tinsmiths-in-a-tinsmiths-shop-india-1922-28801083.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rajshreeagarwal/2019/06/17/upwardmobility/#7b17f74e5428
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afVMMvBUxeI


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Qalaigar
People Name in Country Qalaigar
Alternate Names Kalaigar; क़लैगर
Population this Country 1,500
Population all Countries 1,500
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17917
ROP3 Code 113399
ROP25 Code 306860
ROP25 Name Qalaigar
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
Uttar Pradesh
900
Maharashtra
300
Gujarat
100
Uttarakhand
70
Dadra and Nagar Have
30
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
  Uttar Pradesh 900
  Maharashtra 300
  Gujarat 100
  Uttarakhand 70
  Dadra and Nagar Have 30
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 Urdu (900 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Gujarati
300
Primary Language Urdu (900 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Gujarati 300
People Groups Speaking Urdu

Primary Language:  Urdu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1747-1894)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1758-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1843-2022)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
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 Urdu Jesus Film Project
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 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
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
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.



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