Rastaogi Bania in India

The Rastaogi Bania 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

Rastoogi people live in northern India, primarily Uttar Pradesh. They are among the Bania peoples, a business community. The name "Bania" is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language. The Rastaogi are a sub-group of the Bania peoples who live in India. Of the four major varnas (caste clusters of Hinduism), Banias are in the third one, the Vaishyas. They were usually traders of grain and spices throughout history.
Despite their high incomes, the Banias have only modest status in the Hindu caste pyramid. The Bania tend to resent the higher two varnas, the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas. Thus, Banias have often been leaders in caste reform movements. Mahatma Gandhi is one example, but there have been many others throughout India's long history.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Ironically, the Banias are often resented by others. They are known to charge excessive interest rates. A pre-literate farmer might take a loan from a Bania only to find that a high percentage of his harvest will be taken away as interest. Customers often must put up their land and farms for collateral in case they cannot pay back their loans.
Rastaogi Bania children learn early to "never give; always bargain and make money." From an early age, children are drilled in math and detailed calculations with the end purpose of getting the upper hand in business transactions. Fathers pass business skills to their sons. Rastaogi Bania parents strongly encourage their children, especially the boys, to obtain graduate degrees related to business.
Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm among Bania groups.


What Are Their Beliefs?

This prominent caste traces its Hindu beliefs back to when they selected "Surya" the Hindu sun god as their clan deity. Surya is portrayed as a red man with three eyes and four arms, riding in a chariot. They worship him as the god of healing and fortune. His picture is in Rastoogi-owned shops and homes because they firmly believe he will bring them blessings.


What Are Their Needs?

With almost no known followers of Christ in Uttar Pradesh, the Rastoogi people need an influx of loving missionaries to tell them about Christ's glory. Pray that many Rastoogi people will come to know God's truth, life and ways.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to thrust out the right workers to the Rastoogi Bania community.
Pray that the Rastoogi people will soon get to hear the good news that Jesus Christ offers life to the full for all who surrender to him.
Pray for the Rastoogi Banias to have a Holy Spirit generated hunger for spiritual truth.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Rastaogi in India.


References

Some information from “The Scheduled Castes” K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bania Rastaogi
People Name in Country Bania Rastaogi
Natural Name Rastaogi Bania
Alternate Names Rastaugi; बनिया, रस्त्गी
Population this Country 69,000
Population all Countries 69,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19720
ROP3 Code 115173
ROP25 Code 300836
ROP25 Name Bania
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 6
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
59,000
Rajasthan
5,500
Bihar
2,000
Delhi
1,000
Madhya Pradesh
900
Uttarakhand
700
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 6
  Uttar Pradesh 59,000
  Rajasthan 5,500
  Bihar 2,000
  Delhi 1,000
  Madhya Pradesh 900
  Uttarakhand 700
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (44,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Marwari
6,300
Awadhi
2,100
Bhojpuri
2,100
Kanauji
1,600
Dhundari
1,300
Garhwali
300
Mewari
100
Primary Language Hindi (44,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Marwari 6,300
  Awadhi 2,100
  Bhojpuri 2,100
  Kanauji 1,600
  Dhundari 1,300
  Garhwali 300
  Mewari 100
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)
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Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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