Santal (Sawntal) in Bhutan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Munda-Santal are comprised of nine different, but very closely related people groups. Those in India are distributed throughout the states of Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. Most of the tribes live in the hilly areas of the Chotanagpur Plateau, located in southern Bihar. Others prefer living in the plains. The seven groups who occupy territory farther north include the Santal (of India, Nepal and Bhutan), the Bhumij, the Koda, the Mahili, the Ho, and the Agariya. The two remaining groups, the Juango and the Gadaba, are further south, nearer the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The language of the Munda-Santal, called Munda, belongs to the Austro-Asiatic language family. However, the Santal people speak their own language, Santhali.


In India, the culture of the Santal is quickly changing under the impact of industrialization, new communication links, tribal welfare schemes, and community development projects. This is less pronounced in Bhutan, a nation that is changing very slowly.


Traditions regarding the origin of the Munda-Santal tribes are uncertain. Some believe they originated with new settlers from Southeast Asia 3,000-4,000 years ago.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Santal population in Bhutan depends on farming for survival. Some rural families depend on village or cottage industries, such as weaving. They supplement their meager agricultural earnings with hunting and gathering. Both men and women work to bring home adequate income for their families. The weekly market plays an important part in the Santal's economy.


Santal settlements are usually in river valleys; deforested, eroded areas; and mineral and industrial belts. Most of the people live in clustered villages or villages on one street.


They divide the Santal into clans which recognize a common ancestor. The clans often marry those who are from other tribes; however, there are smaller sub-tribes who are permitted to marry only those within their group. There is also a bachelor's dormitory in all Munda-Santal groups, including the Santal.


The Santal have a fascinating artistic heritage, especially in music and dance. Most of their villages have a dance floor where the village priest offers worship. Headmen run their villages. Most conflicts within the tribes concern land rights or marriage.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Santal tribe tends to preserve their own beliefs, values and separate identity. Most are Hindus, while the others practice ethnic religions. Today, their supreme god is the sun god. There is a Christian minority among them in each of the four countries where they reside.


What Are Their Needs?

In places where the gospel is being preached to the Munda-Santal tribes, the listeners almost immediately receive Christ after the village council talks it over. These precious tribes are ripe unto harvest; they simply need people to show them the way to the true God. This is easier said than done in Bhutan, but God can make a way!


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to thrust out Holy Spirit anointed workers who are willing to share Christ with the Santal people in Bhutan.


Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Santal towards Jesus and his gospel so that they will be receptive.


Ask the Lord to raise up a church planting movement among the Santal people in the 2020s.


Pray that the doors of Bhutan will soon be open to missionaries.


Scripture Prayers for the Santal (Sawntal) in Bhutan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Santal (Sawntal)
People Name in Country Santal (Sawntal)
Alternate Names Hor; Majhi; Santhal; Satar; Sattar; संताल
Population this Country 5,400
Population all Countries 9,221,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 14743
ROP3 Code 108674
ROP25 Code 307239
ROP25 Name Santal
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 3
Largest States
Southern
2,600
Western
1,800
Eastern
900
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 3
  Southern 2,600
  Western 1,800
  Eastern 900
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
2.59 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
68.26 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
29.15 %
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Santhali
Language Code sat   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Assamese Bengali Kurux
Sadri Sora
Primary Language Santhali
Language Code sat   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Assamese
  Bengali
  Kurux
  Sadri
  Sora
People Groups Speaking Santhali

Primary Language:  Santhali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1868-1989)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1887-1962)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2005)
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 Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Santhali Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Santhali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Santhali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Santhali Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Find Your Feet - Flickr  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    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024