Gamit 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.

Subgroups: 2

Subgroup Name Population
Vasawa 5,200
Mawchi 2,400

Introduction / History

The Gamit live mainly in the Surat and Broach districts of Gujarat, India. Among the Bhil, the word gamta means headman, possibly giving the Gamit a feeling of superiority over other Bhil tribes. The Gamit are a regimented tribe and consider themselves distinct from the main lineage of Bhil. Their language, Gamit, is one of the Bhil languages.

Long ago, the prosperity of Gujarat state enticed people from the surrounding states, thus becoming a target of various Muslim tribes who made annual raids to the region for many years. The Islamic rulers reached their greatest power under the Moghal dynasty and overtook the Gujarat kingdom by the end of the thirteenth century. However, the Hindu Maratha fought the Moghals and also established an empire in Gujarat. While war continued between these and other groups over the Gujarat territory, the British rose to power by 1817. Attempting to mend what the Maratha left behind, they began dispersing farmland to the settlers.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Although other Bhil tribes (the Dubla, the Chodhari, and the Dhodia) live in the same region as the Gamit, they live in separate villages. Neither the Dhodia nor the Gamit intermarry with other groups. However, they do make exceptions by marrying the Chodhari Bhil. Cross-cousin marriages are also permitted. The men have more than one wife when they can afford it. The wives are "bought" while they are still young girls. At the wedding parties, it is customary for the men, rather than the women, to sing.

If a young couple wishes to marry but cannot afford the bride price, it is common for the girl to be willingly abducted by the young man. They return home after several months and have their union sanctioned.

The Gamit and the Chodhari are culturally very similar, but the traditions of the Gamit are much stronger. It is even said that they have one more rib than the others. The Gamit, unlike the Chodhari, do not have theatrical dramas at their festivals. Instead, community singing gives variety to their festivals. While the Dhodia women wear necklaces made of beads and coins, the Gamit women wear necklaces made of rows of shells.

Most of the Gamit have given up the nomadic lifestyles of their ancestors and have settled into farming. They inhabit the more richly forested eastern areas of Surat district, an area well known for its rich soils and fine cotton crop. Many others live in areas where, because of the heavy rainfall, they are able to cultivate rice. Forest labor, hunting, and fishing are secondary to agriculture, as well as trade labor in the cities.

Among the Gamit, the town leaders (headmen) have only social functions to perform. Village houses are usually scattered near the streams so that the people might easily draw water, fish, and water their cattle. Homes are typically built by hired labor. They are small bamboo huts made with tiled roofs. The poorer villagers live in mud huts that they build themselves. The important thing to note is that the Gamit residences are all beyond the tidal flows of the rivers.

Unlike many of the Bhil tribes, most of the Gamit have a high school or college education. Unfortunately, many Gamit are addicted to alcohol.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gamit have deep-rooted beliefs in demons and witches. Beside the crocodile which is considered a god, they worship groups of deities made of shapeless pieces of stone or wood, placed under trees, where the supernatural beings are believed to dwell. The Gamit have no temples in which to hold their religious ceremonies.


What Are Their Needs?

Much intercession must be made for the Gamit so that their eyes will be opened to the Truth.


Prayer Points

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will break up the soil through worship and intercession.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth quality laborers to live among the Gamit and show them Christ's love.
Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies focusing on the Gamit.
Pray for the effectiveness of the Jesus film among the Gamit.
Ask God to give the Gamit believers boldness to share the Gospel with their own people.


Scripture Prayers for the Gamit in India.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Gamit
People Name in Country Gamit
Alternate Names Bhil; Daglij; Gabit; Gabol; Gamta; Gamti; Gapit; Gavati; Gavit; Kharvi; Konkani Maratha; Macvhi; Mavchi; Mawachi; Padvi; Pandvi; Valvi; Vasava; Vasawa; गमित
Population this Country 514,000
Population all Countries 522,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 16781
ROP3 Code 112042
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 19
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Gujarat
426,000
Maharashtra
77,000
Goa
2,600
Madhya Pradesh
2,100
Tamil Nadu
1,900
Daman and Diu
1,100
Rajasthan
700
Karnataka
600
Dadra and Nagar Have
400
Delhi
400
West Bengal
300
Telangana
200
Chhattisgarh
200
Jharkhand
200
Uttar Pradesh
60
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 19
  Gujarat 426,000
  Maharashtra 77,000
  Goa 2,600
  Madhya Pradesh 2,100
  Tamil Nadu 1,900
  Daman and Diu 1,100
  Rajasthan 700
  Karnataka 600
  Dadra and Nagar Have 400
  Delhi 400
  West Bengal 300
  Telangana 200
  Chhattisgarh 200
  Jharkhand 200
  Uttar Pradesh 60
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.02 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
10.34 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
88.93 %
Islam
0.28 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
0.40 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gamit (342,000 speakers)
Language Code gbl   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 33
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Gujarati
72,000
Bhili
23,000
Marathi
15,000
Konkani, Goan
2,200
Sourashtra
1,000
Hindi
900
Dangi
800
Kannada
500
Nimadi
300
Telugu
200
Khandesi
200
Ahirani
100
Marwari (India)
100
Mewari
90
Konkani
70
Primary Language Gamit (342,000 speakers)
Language Code gbl   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 33
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Gujarati 72,000
  Bhili 23,000
  Marathi 15,000
  Konkani, Goan 2,200
  Sourashtra 1,000
  Hindi 900
  Dangi 800
  Kannada 500
  Nimadi 300
  Telugu 200
  Khandesi 200
  Ahirani 100
  Marwari (India) 100
  Mewari 90
  Konkani 70
People Groups Speaking Gamit
Photo Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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