Birjia 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

"Oh, this hand of mine!" said the young Birjia woman. She went on to explain in a matter of fact way, tenderly lifting her limply hanging left hand with the right one: "Last year I met with an accident and broke this hand. I don't have enough money to go to the town hospital. Initially there was pain, but now, not much, and I got used to working with one hand. You see, as well as that my husband passed away a few months ago, and I 'm earning for the whole family." This Birjia woman, not in a position to afford medical treatment for her broken hand, had managed to live with it!


Where Are they Located?

Birjia, or Birgia, people are also known as the Bijori. They live mainly in Jharkahand, and some parts of Chhattisgarh. They basically live in the interior of the forests and do not have proper access to the outside world; as a result they lack education and proper medical facilities. Their forest territory is inhabited by a lot of wild animals. The wild animals constantly pose a threat to their crops and their lives.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Despite such a small population of Birjia, there are some Christians, the reason being their receptivity to the Gospel message. It is good to see some Birjia Christians working as pastors, reaching their own people with the Good News. There are also some cross-cultural evangelists. The people are very positive towards any Christian activity. One Birjia Christian is very interested in translating God's Word into his mother tongue. These people are in need of education, medical help and community development. A strong Birjia Christian community would be established only if God's Word is given to them in the language they can best understand - Birjia.


What Are Their Needs?

Birjia people are economically very poor; most of them still depend on forest products for their livelihood now. They are short-statured and not very healthy, due to malnutrition. The literacy rate is also very low among them. However the people are very good-natured, and are happy to see outsiders. They warmly welcome even a stranger, and offer to help in every possible way.


Prayer Points

The often neglected Birjia people to be given benefits from the government.
Christian workers to go as educationalists, medical workers, Bible translators and literacy workers.
The growing number of Birjia Christians to be rooted in God's Word.


Scripture Prayers for the Birjia in India.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Birjia
People Name in Country Birjia
Alternate Names बिरजिया
Population this Country 16,000
Population all Countries 16,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 16463
ROP3 Code 111627
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 7
Largest States
Jharkhand
7,100
Odisha
6,600
West Bengal
1,300
Assam
600
Maharashtra
500
Bihar
200
Tripura
20
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 7
  Jharkhand 7,100
  Odisha 6,600
  West Bengal 1,300
  Assam 600
  Maharashtra 500
  Bihar 200
  Tripura 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
14.30 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
64.62 %
Islam
0.26 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
20.80 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Munda (4,000 speakers)
Language Code unx   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 23
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Odia
3,600
Bijori
2,800
Sadri
2,100
Hindi
1,000
Bengali
300
Assamese
300
Bhojpuri
70
Santhali
50
Sadri, Oraon
50
Mundari
40
Marathi
40
Kurux
20
Maithili
20
Magahi
20
Urdu
10
Primary Language Munda (4,000 speakers)
Language Code unx   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 23
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Odia 3,600
  Bijori 2,800
  Sadri 2,100
  Hindi 1,000
  Bengali 300
  Assamese 300
  Bhojpuri 70
  Santhali 50
  Sadri, Oraon 50
  Mundari 40
  Marathi 40
  Kurux 20
  Maithili 20
  Magahi 20
  Urdu 10
People Groups Speaking Munda
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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