Namassej Chandel 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

When is a Hindu not a Hindu? The Namassej (or Namasudra) Chandel (or Chandal) people of northeast India claim to be Hindus. However Hindus who live in the same region reject them because the Chandal do not accept the four-tier Hindu caste system. The Chandal have their own sacred texts and religious leaders. The Chandal are seen as outside of Hinduism by most Indians. The Namassej have been persecuted by both orthodox Hindus and Muslims. At the time of the 1947 Partition of India, many Chandal left what is now Bangladesh. Unfortunately, they were not welcomed by the Hindu majority nation India. Many were placed in refugee camps. Most Chandal today work as landless agricultural laborers or in jobs no one else is willing to take. Bengali and Assamese are the two main languages of the Namassej. Most of the Chandal are illiterate or functionally illiterate.


What Are Their Lives Like?

As a lower community in India, the lives of the Namassej are very challenging. If the crops fail, they can face starvation. Some Chandal men work as fishmen and as boatmen. Poverty is a way of life for most Namassej. Children quit school after a few years to help their parents in the fields. The few educated Chandal are able to get government jobs and work in businesses. Many Chandal live in villages without access to clean water, modern medicine and electricity. Life expectancy is short and child mortality high. The Namassej marry within their group. Their Hindu and Muslim neighbors often do not want to associate with them. Most Chandal marry in their teens with their families arranging their weddings. Many Chandal live near rivers and lakes so they can fish and earn a living by carrying passengers across the body of water. The diet of the Chandal consists mostly of rice, vegetables and the fish they can catch. As Hindus, they will not eat beef.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The religion of the Namassej is considered to be a sect of Hinduism since the have their own priests and sacred writings. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Chandal visit their Hindu shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians do. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Chandal people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday. The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories. The lowest communities are outside of the caste system. Orthodox Hindus see the Chandal as low caste. The Namassej community faces discrimination on a regular basis.


What Are Their Needs?

As an impoverished community, the Chandal have huge spiritual and physical needs. They need access to clean water, modern medicine and electricity. Their children need good schools. Most of all the Chandal must hear and understand the message about Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and give them the hope of eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest in the Chandal people of both India and Bangladesh. Pray that the Lord raises up a disciple making movement among the Namassej people this decade. Pray that Chandal parents are able to provide adequately for their children.


Scripture Prayers for the Namassej Chandel in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Namassej Chandel
People Name in Country Namassej Chandel
Pronunciation NAY-muh-sez CHAHN-dul
Alternate Names नमास्सेज चंदेलनलावार
Population this Country 1,627,000
Population all Countries 3,819,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 33
PeopleID3 21212
ROP3 Code 118033
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 23
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
1,053,000
Assam
342,000
Tripura
78,000
Bihar
64,000
Odisha
62,000
Jharkhand
6,800
Andaman and Nicobar
6,000
Maharashtra
4,200
Uttar Pradesh
3,200
Manipur
1,400
Delhi
1,300
Chhattisgarh
1,300
Nagaland
1,200
Meghalaya
1,100
Madhya Pradesh
800
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 23  (only 20 largest shown)
  West Bengal 1,053,000
  Assam 342,000
  Tripura 78,000
  Bihar 64,000
  Odisha 62,000
  Jharkhand 6,800
  Andaman and Nicobar 6,000
  Maharashtra 4,200
  Uttar Pradesh 3,200
  Manipur 1,400
  Delhi 1,300
  Chhattisgarh 1,300
  Nagaland 1,200
  Meghalaya 1,100
  Madhya Pradesh 800
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.03 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.49 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.47 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (1,055,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 14
Secondary Languages
Assamese
218,000
Hindi
77,000
Odia
46,000
Maithili
23,000
Sadri
14,000
Amri Karbi
5,200
Kok Borok
2,200
Desiya
600
Kurux
400
Mundari
200
Santhali
200
Andaman Hindi Creole
80
Bhojpuri
70
Primary Language Bengali (1,055,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 14
Secondary Languages
  Assamese 218,000
  Hindi 77,000
  Odia 46,000
  Maithili 23,000
  Sadri 14,000
  Amri Karbi 5,200
  Kok Borok 2,200
  Desiya 600
  Kurux 400
  Mundari 200
  Santhali 200
  Andaman Hindi Creole 80
  Bhojpuri 70
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
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Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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Photo Source Martin Luther 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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