Sachara (Valmiki) in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
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

All Valmiki claim to be descendants of Valmiki, an author of the Ramayana. Some of the Valmiki living in the Punjab have converted to Sikhism. Some Valmiki became Muslims during the Mogul Period. In colonial times, the Valmiki were known as a martial (military) caste. Many of them found employment in the British Army. The vast majority of the Hindu Valmiki people live in India, and that includes those from the Sachara subgroup. The Sachara Valmiki live in southern India and speak Telugu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Sachara Valmiki occupy a lower place in society. Besides serving in the military, Sachara Valmiki labor as streetsweepers, watchmen, toilet cleaners and as farm workers. Sachara Valmiki generally do not own the land they work on. Some have become educated and work in politics, teaching and government positions.

The Sachara Valmiki tend to marry within their group. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young couple. Girls marry in their teens while boys are a few years older. Marriage to one spouse is the norm among the Sachara Valmiki. Boys receive at least an elementary education while girls often quit school after a few years to help their mother with domestic responsibilities.

Rural Sachara Valmiki often lack access to modern medicine, so their life expectancy is less than 60 years. Sachara Valmiki parents have many children. Unfortunately, many children die before reaching the age of ten. Their main foods are rice, vegetables and lentils. Hindu Sachara Valmiki eat meat except for beef. They also refrain from eating pork as to not offend their Muslim neighbors.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Sachara Valmiki people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians do. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Sachara Valmiki need new job skills so they can improve their place in society. Sachara Valmiki women need to improve their literacy levels. Rural Sachara Valmiki would benefit by having access to modern medicine. Most of all, Sachara Valmiki must hear and respond to the good news about Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send anointed workers to the Sachara Valmiki community.
Pray that the leaders among the Sachara Valmiki would be open to hearing and responding to the gospel.
Pray that the Sachara Valmiki would be led by the Holy Spirit to listen to Christian radio programs.
Pray for a movement to Christ among the Sachara Valmiki.


Scripture Prayers for the Sachara (Valmiki) in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valmiki_caste
https://dbpedia.org/page/Valmiki_caste
https://www.quora.com/In-which-caste-does-Valmiki-fall-under


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Sachara (Valmiki)
People Name in Country Sachara (Valmiki)
Alternate Names Boya; Gouikollu; Gurikara; Palaguriki
Population this Country 9,500
Population all Countries 9,500
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 22450
ROP3 Code 119429
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)
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 1
  Andhra Pradesh 9,500
Website South Asia Peoples

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.30 %
Islam
0.14 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.11 %
Unknown
0.45 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Telugu (7,700 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Kupia
400
Odia
300
Kui (India)
30
Kuvi
20
Gadaba, Mudhili
Primary Language Telugu (7,700 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Kupia 400
  Odia 300
  Kui (India) 30
  Kuvi 20
  Gadaba, Mudhili 10
People Groups Speaking Telugu

Primary Language:  Telugu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1854-2022)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Telugu 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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
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 in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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 Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Neethakani) Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Telugu Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Study Bibles (Multiple Languages) Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Telugu YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Telugu Bible (తెలుగు బైబిల్) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Telugu Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Telugu Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Telugu) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Telugu YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Telugu Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Telugu 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
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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