Kurmi (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh


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

Introduction / History

Kurmi is the name given to a Hindu caste residing in India and Bangladesh. The caste system is a pattern of social stratification associated with Hinduism. The word kurmi is related to the word karmi derived from the word karma (meaning action or merit). Defining caste by karma instead of by lineage and birth was a major change in defining caste. The Kurmi are also known as Kunbi.

The Kurmi are believed to be descendants of some of the earliest Aryan immigrants to India and come from the Kshatriyas (warrior caste) who later became farmers. Kurmi are known in India as a chief agricultural caste. Those in Bangladesh probably have lower status.


Where Are they Located?

Most members of the Kurmi community are in India, but a smaller number live further east in neighboring Bangladesh, a Muslim country.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Modern Kurmi in India are relatively prosperous and educated. Their lifestyle is associated with farming and trading. Due to their agricultural link, some people view the Kurmi as one of the "backward" or lower castes rather than as Kshatriyas, a "forward" privileged caste. As often happens among Hindu communities, people try to consider themselves to have high status and caste before other groups, but they also claim low caste status before the government in order to get reserved jobs and placement in colleges. One source describes the Kurmi in Bangladesh as common tea workers, which may or may not be true.


The Kurmi are isolated from the Bible, and they fear that believers want to win Kurmi children away from their families into separate Christian communities.
What Are Their Beliefs?

A key issue for the Kurmi is their desire to be recognized by other castes as belonging to the high status warrior caste. High caste status gives them a false sense of pride. Most likely this caste consciousness is less prevalent in Bangladesh, a Muslim country where Hindus are a minority.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kurmi people need the humility to accept God on His terms, which is salvation through Jesus Christ. They also need people to go to them with the gospel, whether they be in India or Bangladesh.


Prayer Points

Pray for Holy Spirit-directed workers to go to the Kurmi people in Bangladesh.
Pray that the Kurmi people may realize that Jesus is their only hope for salvation.
The Lion of Judah is offering the Kurmi the right to become a special people if they put their sense of worth in the person of Jesus Christ rather than in caste status. Pray for this to happen.
Pray for a strong church planting movement among the Kurmi people in India and Bangladesh.


Scripture Prayers for the Kurmi (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurmi
http://www.ebbd.info/indigenous-communities.html
http://www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/kurmi/
http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Kurmi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunbi


Profile Source:   Global Prayer Digest  

People Name General Kurmi (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Kurmi (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation koor-MEE
Alternate Names Awadhia; Gangwar; Gowd; Kapu; Katiyar; Korma; Kunbi; Kurma; Mahto; Patanwar; Patchwar; Patel; Patidar; Sachan; कुर्मी (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 71,000
Population all Countries 23,021,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17334
ROP3 Code 112717
ROP25 Code 304418
ROP25 Name Kurmi
Country Bangladesh
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 26  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 7
Largest States
Rangpur
25,000
Rajshahi
18,000
Sylhet
13,000
Dhaka
6,100
Khulna
4,300
Chittagong
3,600
Barisal
500
Country Bangladesh
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 26  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 7
  Rangpur 25,000
  Rajshahi 18,000
  Sylhet 13,000
  Dhaka 6,100
  Khulna 4,300
  Chittagong 3,600
  Barisal 500
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Bangladesh census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (58,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Sylheti
11,000
Chittagonian
2,400
Assamese
300
Primary Language Bengali (58,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Sylheti 11,000
  Chittagonian 2,400
  Assamese 300
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
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
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 Story of Jesus for Children 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 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
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Global Prayer Digest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024