Singiwala 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

The Singiwala are a small low class group of people who live in Rajastan, India. Their name means pipe holder. Their traditional occupation was sucking bad blood and pus from wounds. In other words they were low-level surgeons for the poorer classes of Indians. Most of the Singiwala who were Muslims migrated to Pakistan during the Indian-Pakistani Partition of 1947. The Hindu Singiwala remained in India.

Today many Singiwala are landless farm laborers. They are a Scheduled Class, which means the Indian government reserves special places for the Singiwala in public jobs and college admission. Unfortunately, most Singiwala cannot read or write. They are still seen as outcastes in much of Indian society. The primary language of the Singiwala is Hindi. Some speak Rajastani so they can communicate with their neighbors.


Where Are they Located?

The majority of the Singiwala live in the west Indian state of Rajastan. Some also live in Haryana and Delhi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The traditional job of the Singiwala, low-level surgery, is disappearing in modern India. They have had to take up new occupations as farm laborers, factory workers or any other menial jobs they can obtain. Lack of education prevents the Singiwala from getting any but the lowest type of jobs. They are not welcome by the majority Hindus of India. The Singiwala often have to move from place to place just trying to get enough income to feed their families.

The Singiwala are endogamous, that is they marry within their group. Girls often marry in the mid-teens and boys in their late teens. Families arrange marriages. They eat meat except for beef when they can afford it. Most of their food consists of wheat, maize and seasonal vegetables. Alcoholism is reported to be a problem among the Singiwala, which is understandable considering their bleak status. Smoking is common among the men.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The vast majority of the Singiwala practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Even though they are often denied entrance into Hindu temples and shunned by other Hindus, they remain in their traditional religion. Their goal is to attain moksha that is to break free of the endless cycle of being born and reborn, samsara. They hope to achieve liberation through performing rituals and good works.

As Hindus, the Singiwala participate in the yearly holidays of Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the nine-day celebration of autumn.


What Are Their Needs?

The Singiwala have tremendous needs. Most of all they need to hear the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. The Singiwala children must be educated if they are to have any chance of bettering themselves. The Singiwala adults need job training so they can make enough money to live a decent life.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord leads Indian Christians to reach out to share the gospel with the Singiwala and help them in practical ways.
Pray that Christian teachers would help the Singiwala learn basic literacy so they can read the Bible on their own.
Pray that Christian audio resources would be available to the Singiwala so that they can hear the gospel in an accessible way.
Pray that the Singiwala would turn away from a religion, which rejects them, and turn to the God of the Bible who loves them.


Scripture Prayers for the Singiwala in India.


References

www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Singiwala
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singiwala
peoplegroups.org/explore/GroupDetails.aspx?peid=48985


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Singiwala
People Name in Country Singiwala
Alternate Names Giarah; Gihara; Gyarah; Jheewar Bengalee; Kalbaelia; Kanmalia; Kuchband; Kuchiya; Rajbhoi; Singe; Singhi; Singhikat; Singhiwala; Singikant; Singiphoda; Thakur; सिनगीवाला
Population this Country 19,000
Population all Countries 19,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18110
ROP3 Code 113614
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
Rajasthan
16,000
Haryana
1,500
Delhi
1,100
Punjab
400
Gujarat
60
Chandigarh
30
Telangana
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
  Rajasthan 16,000
  Haryana 1,500
  Delhi 1,100
  Punjab 400
  Gujarat 60
  Chandigarh 30
  Telangana 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.90 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
1.10 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (7,300 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Marwari (India)
6,300
Wagdi
2,700
Mewari
500
Dhundari
400
Punjabi, Eastern
400
Gujarati
20
Telugu
20
Primary Language Hindi (7,300 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Marwari (India) 6,300
  Wagdi 2,700
  Mewari 500
  Dhundari 400
  Punjabi, Eastern 400
  Gujarati 20
  Telugu 20
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
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 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 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 Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Hindi) 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 direct APK download (Hindi) SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bibles India Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gospel Films (South Asia) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Hindi Bible (हिंदी बाइबिल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Word General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sab Ki Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: पवित्र बाइबिल Hindi Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Hindi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta (Bible training) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Hindi (Bible training) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: JM Hindi General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Hindi) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
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 Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hindi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hindi Unlocked Literal Bible Kalaam Media Ltd
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Christ for the Nations General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Hindi Bible General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hindi 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
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024