Jaiswal Bania in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Other / Small (Jainism)
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 name "Bania" is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language. The Jaiswal are a sub-group of the Bania peoples who live in India. Of the four major varnas (caste clusters of Hinduism), Banias are in the third one, the Vaishyas. They were usually traders of grain and spices throughout history.
Despite their high incomes, the Banias have only modest status in the Hindu caste pyramid. The Bania tend to resent the higher two varnas, the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas. Thus, Banias have often been leaders in caste reform movements. Mahatma Gandhi is one example, but there have been many others throughout India's long history.
There are many Bania groups, one of which is the Jaiswal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Ironically, the Banias are often resented by others. They are known to charge excessive interest rates. A pre-literate farmer might take a loan from a Bania only to find that a high percentage of his harvest will be taken away as interest. Customers often must put up their land and farms for collateral in case they cannot pay back their loans.
Jaiswal Bania children learn early to "never give; always bargain and make money." From an early age, children are drilled in math and detailed calculations with the purpose of getting the upper hand in business transactions. Fathers pass business skills to their sons. Jaiswal Bania parents strongly encourage their children, especially the boys, to obtain graduate degrees related to business.
Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm among Bania groups.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Jaiswals are Hindus who have not heard about the riches that God has stored up for them in heaven if they will turn their lives over to him. Instead, they usually worship Hindu gods and goddesses such as Ganesha, the one who helps overcome obstacles.


What Are Their Needs?

The Jaiswals generally do not feel the need for Christ. They need the desire to see beyond the natural world.


Prayer Points

Pray the Jaiswal Banias will hear about the greatest deal of all time: salvation through Jesus Christ.
Pray they will invest in the lives of others by spreading the gospel.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out dedicated workers to go to the Jaiswals and other Bania communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Jaiswal in India.


References

Some information from “The Scheduled Castes” K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bania Jaiswal
People Name in Country Bania Jaiswal
Natural Name Jaiswal Bania
Alternate Names बनिया, जायसवाल
Population this Country 135,000
Population all Countries 135,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 19700
ROP3 Code 115152
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 22
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Delhi
39,000
Uttar Pradesh
23,000
Maharashtra
20,000
Madhya Pradesh
14,000
Rajasthan
12,000
West Bengal
12,000
Gujarat
5,700
Jharkhand
2,200
Punjab
2,100
Andhra Pradesh
1,500
Karnataka
1,000
Assam
600
Odisha
600
Bihar
500
Uttarakhand
400
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 22  (only 20 largest shown)
  Delhi 39,000
  Uttar Pradesh 23,000
  Maharashtra 20,000
  Madhya Pradesh 14,000
  Rajasthan 12,000
  West Bengal 12,000
  Gujarat 5,700
  Jharkhand 2,200
  Punjab 2,100
  Andhra Pradesh 1,500
  Karnataka 1,000
  Assam 600
  Odisha 600
  Bihar 500
  Uttarakhand 400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Other / Small (Jainism)
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
38.19 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
61.81 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (86,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Marathi
8,600
Marwari (India)
8,200
Gujarati
5,100
Bengali
3,300
Konkani
2,900
Wagdi
1,800
Bhojpuri
1,100
Dhundari
1,100
Telugu
700
Bundeli
300
Punjabi, Eastern
200
Kacchi
200
Malvi
100
Shekhawati
100
Mewari
70
Primary Language Hindi (86,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Marathi 8,600
  Marwari (India) 8,200
  Gujarati 5,100
  Bengali 3,300
  Konkani 2,900
  Wagdi 1,800
  Bhojpuri 1,100
  Dhundari 1,100
  Telugu 700
  Bundeli 300
  Punjabi, Eastern 200
  Kacchi 200
  Malvi 100
  Shekhawati 100
  Mewari 70
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

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Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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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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