Hmar 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

people of Hmar are known for their bravery and live in the northeastern states of Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, Megalaya and Tripura. The beauty of the landscape of this region is supplemented by the pleasant climate that is the result of dense forests and rugged mountains. The word "Hmar" literally means "north". Hmar folk songs reveal that these people migrated from Sinlung, which is assumed to be in China. The Hmar were nomadic in nature and due to ecological factors such as famine, the whole Hmar community was compelled to move, eventually reaching northeast India. These people are distinctive in their traditional bright clothes.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The community has close traditional and socio-economic interaction with outsiders and in some places they are engaged in territorial wars with other tribes. The Hmar live in large areas which are difficult to access by road. Even in this difficult terrain, a Welsh missionary brought the gospel message in 1910.

In earlier days, each Hmar clan had a dialect of its own but because of the effort of Christian missionaries they have developed a common language. Hmar society has witnessed other changes with regard to their social institutions, economic activities, political structure, leadership, religious beliefs and rituals. The efforts of government and voluntary agencies have brought about these changes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Currently there are numerous churches in each of the Hmar villages. Christianity has influenced the Hmar in quite a number of ways, including their culture and education system. The habit of drinking is also fast disappearing because of their change in faith. Their language, which had never been written down, was written in Roman script by missionaries, and the New Testament was published 1941. The JESUS Film dubbed in their language is available for the Hmar.


What Are Their Needs?

The Hmar people need to answer God’s call to be salt and light to all peoples in South Asia.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Hmar to capture the vision of Christ's Great Commission and reach out to their neighbors.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to make major inroads into their families in the coming years.


Scripture Prayers for the Hmar in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Hmar
People Name in Country Hmar
Alternate Names Kuki; ह्मार
Population this Country 111,000
Population all Countries 111,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 16937
ROP3 Code 112239
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 6
Largest States
Manipur
56,000
Mizoram
33,000
Assam
19,000
Meghalaya
2,100
Arunachal Pradesh
200
Maharashtra
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 6
  Manipur 56,000
  Mizoram 33,000
  Assam 19,000
  Meghalaya 2,100
  Arunachal Pradesh 200
  Maharashtra 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.21 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
98.87 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.35 %
Islam
0.41 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.04 %
Unknown
0.11 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hmar (90,000 speakers)
Language Code hmr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 45
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Mizo
3,900
Chin, Paite
1,600
English
700
Chin, Thado
400
Khasi
400
Naga, Lotha
400
Hindi
200
Gangte
100
Bengali
100
Mara: Lakher
70
Assamese
70
Naga, Inpui: Naga, Kabui
50
Naga, Tangkhul (India)
50
Anal
50
Nepali
40
Primary Language Hmar (90,000 speakers)
Language Code hmr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 45
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Mizo 3,900
  Chin, Paite 1,600
  English 700
  Chin, Thado 400
  Khasi 400
  Naga, Lotha 400
  Hindi 200
  Gangte 100
  Bengali 100
  Mara: Lakher 70
  Assamese 70
  Naga, Inpui: Naga, Kabui 50
  Naga, Tangkhul (India) 50
  Anal 50
  Nepali 40
People Groups Speaking Hmar

Primary Language:  Hmar

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1920-1953)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1946-1977)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1968-2016)
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
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hmar Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Baibul (Hmar) - Delhi Version General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hmar YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hmar Bible General / Other
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hmar YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
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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