Rajput Ponwar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan


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 Muslim Rajput Ponwar or Panwar live in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Rajput means "son of a ruler" in Sanskrit. Ponwar means "descendants of the Paramara" dynasty. This middle-sized kingdom flourished in the late medieval period in north central India and Pakistan. All Rajput Ponwar were originally Hindus. With the coming of the Muslim sultanates, some Ponwar converted to Islam for spiritual and political reasons. They converted to Islam by clans not as individuals.

The Ponwar take pride in their warrior history. The British recruited them as soldiers during the colonial period. The Ponwar became landholders of large estates. Some Rajput Ponwar are wealthy landowners who have other castes work their land. Some are less wealthy and till the soil themselves. Their military tradition continues in the Pakistani Army. They hold positions of leadership in government.

The primary languages of the Pakistani Ponwar are Western Punjabi and Urdu. They also speak other regional Pakistani languages.


Where Are they Located?

The Muslim Ponwar live in the Pakistani states of Punjab and Sindh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Rajput Ponwar enjoy a high status in Pakistani society. They encourage their sons to pursue higher education. As Muslims, their women are often secluded in the home. When the women go out, they wear very modest clothing that covers their heads and bodies. Families arrange marriages within the Rajput caste but not within the near clan members. The ancient practice of child marriage is no longer followed. Sons inherit property. They are non-vegetarians but as Muslims they do not eat pork.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Rajput Ponwar lives revolve around the five daily prayers. They attend services at their local mosque on Fridays where they mingle with other groups of Muslims.


What Are Their Needs?

The Muslim Ponwar need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They must see that Isa or Jesus is much more than a prophet and that only through Isa can their sins be forgiven.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord sends Christians to befriend the Rajput Ponwar and show them the love and mercy of God.
Pray that Rajputs living outside of Pakistan would become Christians and return to Pakistan to share the gospel with their people.
Pray that the Holy Spirit leads many Rajputs to Christ and that growing
churches are planted among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Rajput Ponwar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


References

britannica.com/place/India/The-Rajputs#ref976107
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panhwar
induhistory.blogspot.com/p/rajput-history.html


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

The Rajputs

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Rajput Ponwar (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Rajput Ponwar (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation RAHJ-put pun-WAHR
Alternate Names Panwar; राजपूत पोंवार (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 763,000
Population all Countries 840,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 15
PeopleID3 20226
ROP3 Code 115970
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 4
Largest States
Punjab
495,000
Sindh
265,000
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
1,400
Islamabad
1,100
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 4
  Punjab 495,000
  Sindh 265,000
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1,400
  Islamabad 1,100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Saraiki (240,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Punjabi, Western
179,000
Sindhi
169,000
Urdu
95,000
Marwari (Pakistan)
48,000
Dhatki
3,800
Bagri
3,600
Hindko, Southern
3,200
Pahari-Potwari
2,600
Hindko, Northern
600
Pashto, Northern
100
Primary Language Saraiki (240,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Punjabi, Western 179,000
  Sindhi 169,000
  Urdu 95,000
  Marwari (Pakistan) 48,000
  Dhatki 3,800
  Bagri 3,600
  Hindko, Southern 3,200
  Pahari-Potwari 2,600
  Hindko, Northern 600
  Pashto, Northern 100
People Groups Speaking Saraiki
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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