Kuruba 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: 3

Subgroup Name Population
Alu 2,500
Kurmar 2,100
Mallesu 1,300

Introduction / History

The word Kuruba means "warrior." The Kuruba people of India are one of the oldest people groups in that ancient country.


Where Are they Located?

They live in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kuruba people read and write Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu.

Traditionally they have been farmers and shepherds. In addition to farming, they weave rough blankets made of wool. They are not vegetarians, and they eat grains such as rice and wheat.

The Kuruba people allow marriage between cousins. The couple is married at the home of the bridegroom. Divorcees and the bereaved may marry again. Property goes to the sons when the father dies, and the oldest son becomes the head of the family. There is a birth pollution that is observed for nine days and the ceremony of naming the baby takes place on the tenth day. Their dead are buried and there is a ten-day death pollution period.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The most important need of Kuruba people is to understand that their good works and worship of Hindu gods will never pay the penalty for their sins, and that the Almighty Creator God has made the provision for them to be forgiven.


What Are Their Needs?

Adequate visual, audio, and video Christian resources are available in the languages which Kuruba people speak, but they are still an unreached people group.


Prayer Points

Pray that intercessors worldwide will pray for salvation and spiritual transformation of the Kuruba people.
Pray for workers to disciple them.
Ask Almighty God to raise up entire Kuruba families and communities until their culture is transformed to glorify God and represent His Kingdom here on earth.


Scripture Prayers for the Kuruba in India.


References

Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999


Profile Source:   Karen Hightower  

People Name General Kuruba
People Name in Country Kuruba
Alternate Names Dhangar; Gorava; Guravayyallu; Indra; Kanakajatiyavaru; Kathikkaran; Kathilkar; Kuramvar; Kuremban; Kuruban; Kuruma; Kurumba; Kurumban; Kurumbar; Kurumvari; Kuruva; Kuruvillu; Kurva; Malle Guravayyallu; Mallesu; Prathama Sudhra; Sudan; कुरुबा
Population this Country 4,689,000
Population all Countries 4,689,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 94
PeopleID3 17336
ROP3 Code 112719
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 14
Largest States
Karnataka
3,747,000
Tamil Nadu
861,000
Maharashtra
39,000
Andhra Pradesh
25,000
Chhattisgarh
5,300
Telangana
4,100
Kerala
2,900
Puducherry
2,000
Goa
1,600
Delhi
600
Andaman and Nicobar
400
Madhya Pradesh
200
Odisha
100
Uttar Pradesh
30
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 14
  Karnataka 3,747,000
  Tamil Nadu 861,000
  Maharashtra 39,000
  Andhra Pradesh 25,000
  Chhattisgarh 5,300
  Telangana 4,100
  Kerala 2,900
  Puducherry 2,000
  Goa 1,600
  Delhi 600
  Andaman and Nicobar 400
  Madhya Pradesh 200
  Odisha 100
  Uttar Pradesh 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.04 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.95 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.01 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Kannada (3,177,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Tamil
384,000
Telugu
294,000
Kurumba, Kannada
277,000
Konkani
7,800
Tulu
5,700
Kurumba, Jennu
3,400
Kurumba, Alu
3,000
Malayalam
1,900
Konkani, Goan
1,800
Bellari
1,500
Marathi
1,300
Hindi
400
Chhattisgarhi
300
English
40
Kodava
40
Primary Language Kannada (3,177,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Tamil 384,000
  Telugu 294,000
  Kurumba, Kannada 277,000
  Konkani 7,800
  Tulu 5,700
  Kurumba, Jennu 3,400
  Kurumba, Alu 3,000
  Malayalam 1,900
  Konkani, Goan 1,800
  Bellari 1,500
  Marathi 1,300
  Hindi 400
  Chhattisgarhi 300
  English 40
  Kodava 40
People Groups Speaking Kannada

Primary Language:  Kannada

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1988)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1827-2023)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2024)
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 Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kannada 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 Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links 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: Kannada YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Kannada Bible (ಕನ್ನಡ ಬೈಬಲ್) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Kannada Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Kannada Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
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: Kannada YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Kannada Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Kannada 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
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Karen Hightower 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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