Kashmiri Pandit Brahmin 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 Brahmin Kashmiri Pandits of India claim to have lived in the north Indian mountainous region of Kashmir for over 5000 years. The word Pandit means a wise man or scholar of Hinduism. Pandit is often used as an honorific title.

Starting in 1989, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes because of Muslim extremist who came to Jammu and Kashmir. The Pandits were told to convert to Islam, leave or be killed. Over 300 Kashmiri Pandit were murdered in 1990. As a result, almost all the Kashmiri Pandit fled to other parts of India.

Today many Pandits live in refugee camps. Others have settled in other parts of India. When the Indian government stated that the Kashmiri could safely return to their homes, the vast majority of them were afraid to return due to the presence of Muslim extremists who still operate in the Jammu and Kashmir.

The Kashmiri Pandits are educated people and still maintain their ancient occupations of Hindu priests, scholars and teachers. Others work as public servants and in law, engineering, computer science and medicine. The primary languages of the Pandits are Kashmiri and Dogri. As highly educated Indians, they also speak Hindi and English.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India was a Brahmin Kashmiri Pandit.


Where Are they Located?

Many Brahmin Kashmiri Pandits have left their ancestral home for other parts of India. Many have settled in the Capital Territory of New Delhi and in the nearby state of Jammu. Unfortunately many are living in refugee camps hoping to find a permanent place to live.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The fleeing from Jammu and Kashmir by the Pandits has severely disrupted their lives. They have tried to continue their lives as best as they can. When they come to live in a new place, other Brahmins have come to their aid by helping their children get into colleges and helping them find employment.

As Brahmins, the Kashmiri Pandits lives are dominated by their religion of Hinduism. They will only marry other Brahmins and they prefer marriage within their own group. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people.

Some Pandits are strict vegetarians while others eat meat except for beef.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Brahmin Kashmiri Pandits consider themselves to be devout Hindus. They are followers of the ancient religion of India, Hinduism. Kashmiri Pandits are chiefly followers of Shiva, the destroyer god. Their favorite goddess is Kheer Bhawani. The spring of Kheer Bhawani at the mouth of Sind Valley in Jammu and Kashmir is considered one of their most important and sacred places. Their branch of Shiva worship is known as Kashmir Shaivism. The primary tenet of Kashmir Shaivism is that the individual soul is one with the universal. Jammu and Kashmir has also been a land of Sun worship with shrines such as Martand Temple.

Sivaratri, the February holiday in honor of Shiva, is one of their main festivals.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kashmiri Pandits need to hear the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. With so many now in refugee camps, they have physical needs that can be met by Christian agencies. Like all Brahmins they need to be humbled to see themselves as sinners and in need of God's remedy for sin, Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord uses the disruptions caused by their leaving of their homes to make the Kashmiri Pandits open to the claims and message of Christ.
Pray that God moves Indian Christians to reach out and share the gospel with the Pandits.
Pray that God raises up Bible-believing churches among the Kashmiri Pandits.


Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Kashmiri Pandit in India.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmiri_Pandit


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Brahmin Kashmiri Pandit
People Name in Country Brahmin Kashmiri Pandit
Natural Name Kashmiri Pandit Brahmin
Pronunciation cash-MEER-ee PUN-dit BRAH-min
Alternate Names Banamasi; Batta; Kashmiri Pandit; Malamasi; Pandit; Pant; Purana Kashmiri Pandit; Purohit; Sharma; Taza Kashmiri Pandit; ब्रामिन, कश्मीरी पंडित
Population this Country 796,000
Population all Countries 796,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 16
PeopleID3 19955
ROP3 Code 115731
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
Jammu and Kashmir
555,000
Delhi
166,000
Maharashtra
24,000
Himachal Pradesh
20,000
Madhya Pradesh
12,000
Punjab
6,800
Gujarat
4,600
Chandigarh
3,600
Ladakh
2,300
Uttar Pradesh
1,800
Rajasthan
500
Uttarakhand
300
West Bengal
90
Jharkhand
40
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
  Jammu and Kashmir 555,000
  Delhi 166,000
  Maharashtra 24,000
  Himachal Pradesh 20,000
  Madhya Pradesh 12,000
  Punjab 6,800
  Gujarat 4,600
  Chandigarh 3,600
  Ladakh 2,300
  Uttar Pradesh 1,800
  Rajasthan 500
  Uttarakhand 300
  West Bengal 90
  Jharkhand 40
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.99 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Kashmiri (384,000 speakers)
Language Code kas   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Dogri
219,000
Hindi
97,000
Khah
3,300
Bhadrawahi
2,500
Ladakhi
400
Chambeali
70
Wagdi
10
Primary Language Kashmiri (384,000 speakers)
Language Code kas   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Dogri 219,000
  Hindi 97,000
  Khah 3,300
  Bhadrawahi 2,500
  Ladakhi 400
  Chambeali 70
  Wagdi 10
People Groups Speaking Kashmiri
Photo Source José Antonio Morcillo Valenciano - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: 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