Pashtun Afridi 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 Pashtun have been called the largest Muslim tribal society in the world. There are at least 30 major tribes, and countless sub-tribes and clans. Pashtuns share a unique sense of common identity based on four elements: Heritage, Islam, the Pashtunwali Code of Honor, and to some extent, language (Pakhtu or Pashto). More significant than dialectical differences, a Pashtun's primary loyalty is to his particular social group (tribe or sub-tribe).
There have been efforts to reach the Pashtun since 1818, when William Carey translated parts of the Old Testament into Pakhtu, based on interaction with Pashtun traders who caravanned (and settled) across north India and beyond. The first intentional mission to the Pashtun was launched by the Church Missionary Society in Peshawar, Pakistan in 1853. This was followed by over 150 years of faithful witness. Despite this record, a vibrant, indigenous, disciple-making movement has yet to take root and spread.
Pashto, the language of the Pashtuns, is a complex language. There are many varieties of the one language Pashto. Even women, who have less interaction with outsiders and other language groups, are said to speak a distinctive variety of Pashto!


Where Are they Located?

The majority of Pashtun live in Pakistan and Afghanistan. There is also a large Pashtun diaspora in India, and Pashtuns are the fourth largest Muslim people group in that country. Through the long process of indigenization, most Pashtuns in India today are often indistinguishable from other Indian Muslim communities. They are divided into at least 32 subgroups which reflect various clans, etc. You can find the Pashtuns in most states of India especially Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. Many of the Pashtun settlements in India date back hundreds of years.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Pashtuns in India have a low literacy rate, which holds them back economically and socially. Those who have a good education often work as professionals or with government agencies, especially police departments. Those in rural areas sometimes earn a good income by renting out family-owned farmland or selling horses. The rural poor among them suffer from unsanitary conditions caused mainly by poor water.
Pashtuns in India as well as other parts of South Asia have an affinity for Bollywood actors and actresses with the surname of Khan, which they attribute to their own ethnic group. Some Khans are Pashtun, but not all of them.
Honor (and conversely, shame) refers not to personal feelings or a psychological state, but to one's public reputation in the eyes of others. In a collectivistic society like the Pashtun, where community is emphasized over individualism, a person's identity is defined by his/her group. Everything one does is a matter of honor. Where you sit at a meal, who you marry, where you work, how you make decisions or spend money, all are affected by social expectations, and in turn affect one's reputation (honor). Although the practice of Pashtunwali may be decreasing among urban Pashtuns, it remains a unifying theme.
Women are both the weakest link, and most important symbol, of the honor of any Pashtun man, family, and tribe. For a woman, honor is equated with modesty. The notion of modesty involves far more than dress and includes the total demeanor of a woman and her submission to the men (father, husband, brothers) in her family.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Pashtuns are Sunni Muslims. Right religious practice (orthopraxy) tends to be more important than right belief (orthodoxy). Actual religious practice and piety vary according to context. As in other parts of the Muslim world, some Pashtuns are cultural Muslims; others are secular, or non-practicing; still others identify with the mystical tradition of Islam.
Pashtuns fear the influence of demons and evil spirits and seek protection by visiting the shrines of Muslim saints through amulets and charms, astrology, and fortune telling. Driven by felt needs—healing, desire for a son, relief from an abusive spouse—women especially turn to folk practices to ward off evil and seek God's favor.


What Are Their Needs?

The Pashtuns in India need to be liberated from the spirit world. They need a higher literacy rate so they can thrive in India's rapidly developing urban economy.


Prayer Points

Pray for each subgroup of Pashtuns in India to have a movement to Christ which will bless them economically and spiritually.
Ask God's Spirit to soften hearts to the truth of the gospel, to confirm the Word with signs following, and to reveal Christ to the minds and hearts of Pashtun!
Ask God to anoint, and grant wisdom, favor and fruitfulness to workers and agencies focused on the Pashtun.
Most Pashtun women are troubled by fears and have deep needs. Ask God to touch their hearts, especially through radio and television, and to help them put their faith in the almighty Savior.


Scripture Prayers for the Pashtun Afridi in India.


References

http://www.khyber.org/articles/2007/Study_of_the_Pathan_Communitie.shtml
https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/anthropology-and-archaeology/people/pathans
https://www.facebook.com/PathanInIndia/posts/notable-indians-of-pashtun-ancestrybollywood-superstar-shahrukh-khan-is-a-non-pa/146777108809235/
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/indian-pathans-to-broker-peace-in-afghanistan/story-W6Z4o4Dm0ETTz7tPBoHT1I.html
https://www.interlitfoundation.org/store/Rohi-Mataluna-Pashto-Proverbs-p5547627


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Pashtun Afridi
People Name in Country Pashtun Afridi
Alternate Names
Population this Country 551,000
Population all Countries 1,205,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 11
PeopleID3 22110
ROP3 Code 119128
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)
Uttar Pradesh
144,000
Maharashtra
79,000
West Bengal
51,000
Karnataka
51,000
Madhya Pradesh
50,000
Rajasthan
50,000
Tamil Nadu
27,000
Bihar
23,000
Odisha
16,000
Telangana
15,000
Gujarat
15,000
Delhi
11,000
Chhattisgarh
5,200
Andhra Pradesh
4,200
Jharkhand
4,100
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)
  Uttar Pradesh 144,000
  Maharashtra 79,000
  West Bengal 51,000
  Karnataka 51,000
  Madhya Pradesh 50,000
  Rajasthan 50,000
  Tamil Nadu 27,000
  Bihar 23,000
  Odisha 16,000
  Telangana 15,000
  Gujarat 15,000
  Delhi 11,000
  Chhattisgarh 5,200
  Andhra Pradesh 4,200
  Jharkhand 4,100
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Urdu (336,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
Hindi
84,000
Bengali
37,000
Kanauji
15,000
Wagdi
7,000
Marwari (India)
3,200
Bhojpuri
2,700
Gujarati
1,200
Dhundari
1,100
Telugu
900
Pashto, Northern
700
Kashmiri
600
Shekhawati
500
Mewari
100
Punjabi, Eastern
70
Primary Language Urdu (336,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 84,000
  Bengali 37,000
  Kanauji 15,000
  Wagdi 7,000
  Marwari (India) 3,200
  Bhojpuri 2,700
  Gujarati 1,200
  Dhundari 1,100
  Telugu 900
  Pashto, Northern 700
  Kashmiri 600
  Shekhawati 500
  Mewari 100
  Punjabi, Eastern 70
People Groups Speaking Urdu

Primary Language:  Urdu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1747-1894)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1758-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1843-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
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Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Urdu Jesus Film Project
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 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 for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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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 Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
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 SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kitab e Muqaddas Urdu General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Urdu Devnagri Bible (उर्दू बाइबिल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu Injeel Sharif General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Urdu Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Urdu General / Other
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 as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Urdu YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Urdu Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Copyrighted © 2024  AS photostudio - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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