Besya (Muslim traditions) 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

Besya comes from the Persian word bais. It means 20, because they once had 20 subgroups that converted to Islam. Some consider Besya to be derogatory, so they prefer to be called "Musalman Dabgar" or "Musalman Jhangra."

Those in India live in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, but most live in Bangladesh. They speak Bengali.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Besya people traditionally had low status because of their work with dead animals. They were butchers and tanners. Fortunately, their status has improved, and many hold better jobs in the 21st century.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are entirely Muslim. Much of this was probably a reaction to the Hindu communities stigmatizing them for working with dead materials.


What Are Their Needs?

These people need to put their hope and identity in the King of kings and Lord of lords.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Besya people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.

Pray for families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.

Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that results in thousands of new believers who share their faith with others.

Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.


Scripture Prayers for the Besya (Muslim traditions) in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Besya (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Besya (Muslim traditions)
Alternate Names बेसया (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 1,900
Population all Countries 18,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16385
ROP3 Code 111527
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)
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 1
  West Bengal 1,900
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 Bengali (1,900 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bengali (1,900 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
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World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
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 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 Bengali 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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
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Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bengali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bengali Bangla Version Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bengali Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Bengali Bible (Common Language Version) Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Android Bible App: Bengali Bible (বাঙালি বাইবেল) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bengali Mussolmani Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kitabul Muqaddas (Bangla) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: পবিত্র বাইবেল (Holy Bible) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Bengali Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
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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: Bangla Bible Kalaam Media Ltd
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Bengali YouVersion Bibles
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 Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Bengali Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Online New Testament (Bibles India) Operation Agape
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
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.


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