Satnami 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 Chamar people are also known as Bhambi, Asadaru, Khalpa, Machigar, Mochi, and Rohit. The origins of the name "chamar" come from their leather work. Like most major Hindu castes, the Chamar have subgroups. One of their subgroups is the Satnami.

The Satnamis were established by a Hindu guru by the name of Ghasidas who lived from 1756 to 1850. Satnami Chamars live mainly in Chandhgarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In traditional Hinduism, those who deal with "dead" matter are among the low status communities. This is especially true for those who work with leather, which comes from cattle, which Hindus consider holy. The Satnami’s main occupation is manufacturing shoes and chappals from finished leather. Satnami Chamars are among the largest communities in the Hindu world and have very low status. This low status in Indian-Hindu tradition makes them undesirable and unworthy of any sort of consideration or provision by society. This translates into frequent joblessness, lack of education and lifelong poverty. Traditional upper caste members would avoid their shadow, though this would be rare today.

Some are engaged in daily-wage labor and petty business. Satnami women are also involved in agricultural work, animal husbandry and various economic activities.

The Satnami practice monogamy in marriage, meaning one man marries one woman. They allow remarriage for widowers but not for the widows. The dead body of a bachelor is buried lying on its back with the head facing the south, whereas others are cremated, and their mortal remains are immersed in sacred water. They offer rice balls to the dead and to ancestors on the tenth day after death.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Satnami Chamar are Hindu. They follow the teachings of Ghasidas, a guru who taught that all communities are equal. Ghasidas emphasized truth and equality much like the Sikhs. He told his people to throw away their idols and listen to a white man who comes to them with a large book. For a time, they listened to Christian missionaries, but that movement has since fizzled out.


What Are Their Needs?

There is a slightly higher degree of responsiveness to the gospel among the Satnami Chamars than among other low castes. There is a church planting movement underway among Satnami in several districts across India, but they are far from unreached. It will take many workers to get the gospel to all Chamar communities throughout India.


Prayer Points

Pray for God to send hundreds of Christian workers among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.
Pray for the Satnami people to break through the caste barrier and be accepted by other communities.
Pray that these Satnami believers will be salt and light to other communities throughout India.
Pray that church planting will multiply across all Chamar communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Satnami in India.


References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar. Copyrighted © Used with permission.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamar
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/chamars
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chamar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghasidas


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Satnami
People Name in Country Satnami
Alternate Names Chamar; Chambhar; Chamehar; Chhattis; Dhusia; Dohare; Jaiswar; Jatava; Jhusia; Kureel; Mochi; Moci; Ramdasia; Satnami; Shankhwar
Population this Country 2,001,000
Population all Countries 2,001,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 40
PeopleID3 21708
ROP3 Code 118496
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 8
Largest States
Chhattisgarh
1,220,000
Uttar Pradesh
725,000
Maharashtra
37,000
Jharkhand
11,000
Madhya Pradesh
7,000
Rajasthan
200
Telangana
200
Haryana
10
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 8
  Chhattisgarh 1,220,000
  Uttar Pradesh 725,000
  Maharashtra 37,000
  Jharkhand 11,000
  Madhya Pradesh 7,000
  Rajasthan 200
  Telangana 200
  Haryana 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.51 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.66 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
97.83 %
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 Hindi (957,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
Chhattisgarhi
734,000
Bhojpuri
38,000
Kanauji
13,000
Marathi
12,000
Awadhi
6,200
Odia
5,300
Bundeli
2,300
Konkani
1,600
Braj Bhasha
1,100
Bengali
1,000
Ahirani
200
Telugu
70
Bhatri
30
Wagdi
Primary Language Hindi (957,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
  Chhattisgarhi 734,000
  Bhojpuri 38,000
  Kanauji 13,000
  Marathi 12,000
  Awadhi 6,200
  Odia 5,300
  Bundeli 2,300
  Konkani 1,600
  Braj Bhasha 1,100
  Bengali 1,000
  Ahirani 200
  Telugu 70
  Bhatri 30
  Wagdi 10
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
Photo Source Amit Satnami - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
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.


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