Baha'i in India
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Andrzej Lisowski Travel - Shutterstock All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
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| People Name: | Baha'i |
| Country: | India |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 15,000 |
| World Population: | 27,400 |
| Primary Language: | Hindi |
| Primary Religion: | Other / Small |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
Fleeing persecution in Persia (now called Iran) the first Baha’i people came to South Asia in 1844. There are few if any Baha’i in Iran today; most now live in South Asian countries like India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
What Are Their Lives Like?
They are a wealthy people group who often run their own businesses. The Baha’I have established a number of educational institutions in India. Some are about teaching their theology while others, such as the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women, are there to help women in the local community. Baha’i women have excelled as lawyers and actresses.
They have a large place of worship in Delhi simply known as the “Baha’i House of Worship” and a smaller one in Chandigarh. They have their own cemetery, which was vandalized by Hindu nationalists in 2015.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Baha'i religion began in Persia over 100 years ago as a reform movement within Islam. Bahallujah ran into trouble with Persia's Muslim rulers because he placed many other great religious leaders, whom he called ascended masters, on the same level as Mohammed. Bahallujah taught that the ascended masters include Moses, Buddha and Jesus, because all of them had risen from the dead. Such beliefs got him executed as a heretic. His followers then fled the growing persecution in Persia and found new homes in India. Today the Baha'is eagerly await the coming of the next ascended master.
What Are Their Needs?
The Baha’i need the spiritual hunger it takes to seek and find the ways of Jesus.
Prayer Points
Ask God to open the spiritual eyes of the Baha'is. May they realize that Jesus Christ was the only who has truly risen from the dead. Pray that the Baha'is will be drawn towards spiritual truth and find it in Jesus Christ.