Madiga Baineedu in India

Introduction / History

The Baineedu are a subgroup of the Madiga, a low caste artisan group. Their job involves working with leather goods, which gives them very low status in Hindu society. They are considered among the lowest of the low.

Where Are they Located?

This Hindu community lives in Andhra Pradesh, a state in southeastern India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditional work of Madiga people is making footwear, leather work and tanning. The women help in hide tanning, and act as midwives. They work in agriculture, though not many own their own land. In urban regions, many work in industry. They are not vegetarians, and they eat beef and rice. They are usually less than average in height.

Today they are benefitting from India's "reservation" system which allows low status people groups reservations into certain government jobs and allows for some of them to attend universities. A small number of Baineedu Madiga young men have gone into the computer industry where status is not determined by ancestry but by talent.

Baineedu Madiga family heads arrange marriages, often between cousins. They don't allow for divorce, but those who are widowed can remarry. Inheritance goes to the oldest son.

What Are Their Beliefs?

At the popular level, which is where the Baineedu Madiga people are, Hindus worship and serve the gods whom they believe will give them favor and protection, much like a business transaction. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. Many from lower castes believe that by faithfully performing the tasks they have been given they are likely to be reincarnated into a higher caste in their next life.

What Are Their Needs?

The Baineedu Madiga people need to find their dignity and identity in Jesus Christ, the one who reached out to those that others despised and brought them higher.

Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Baineedu Madiga people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Baineedu Madiga families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Baineedu Madiga people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Baineedu Madiga people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.

Text Source:   Keith Carey