Saitwal Bania in India

The Saitwal Bania have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Other / Small (Jainism)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Banias originated over 5,000 years ago, and they are also called Vania or Mahajan. Their name is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language.

Of the four major varnas (caste clusters), Banias are in the third one, the Vaishyas. This caste cluster has always been about trade, business, and money lending. 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. They resent the higher two varnas, the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas, and 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.

Banias originated in the western Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Today the Saitwal Banias are mainly in the states of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, though some are in other states. Swahitwal means that they “work for the benefit of their inner self.”


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Swahitwal can be tailors, weavers, oil extractors, shop keepers or money lenders.

They are often resented by other castes, because they lend much needed money at high 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 their farms or their gold up for collateral in case they cannot pay back their loans.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Nearly all Saitwal Bania are Jain. This is a well-respected reform movement within Hinduism that has no gods or spirit beings to help; one must help themselves. They do this through right thinking, right knowledge and right conduct. They believe in non-violence and not harming any living thing. For that reason, they are careful to not even harm an insect.


What Are Their Needs?

Saitwal Banias need a spiritual transformation that will bring them to the point where they want to follow the ways of Jesus and abandon the old ways that have left them spiritually empty and other castes economically devastated and resentful.


Prayer Points

Pray that the veil of deception will be lifted from the eyes of the Saitwal Banias and that they will see that the only true wealth is the spiritual riches gained through a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pray that Christ's disciples will be called to work among them and share Christ in a culturally relevant way.
Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among every Bania community.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Saitwal in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bania_(caste)
http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/LIA5OcknCv3zQw2hJi0GDN/The-peculiar-pedigree-of-the-business-class.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saitwal


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bania Saitwal
People Name in Country Bania Saitwal
Natural Name Saitwal Bania
Alternate Names Sailwal; बनिया, सैईतवाल
Population this Country 54,000
Population all Countries 54,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 20344
ROP3 Code 116127
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
Maharashtra
49,000
Madhya Pradesh
4,000
Rajasthan
700
Andhra Pradesh
300
Chhattisgarh
90
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
  Maharashtra 49,000
  Madhya Pradesh 4,000
  Rajasthan 700
  Andhra Pradesh 300
  Chhattisgarh 90
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Other / Small (Jainism)
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
44.09 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
55.91 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (27,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Marathi
17,000
Konkani
3,800
Wagdi
100
Telugu
100
Dhundari
60
Primary Language Hindi (27,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Marathi 17,000
  Konkani 3,800
  Wagdi 100
  Telugu 100
  Dhundari 60
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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Mobile App Android Bible app: पवित्र बाइबिल Hindi Bible Biblica
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Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hindi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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.


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