Jalkeot in India
Photo Source:
Anonymous
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Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
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| People Name: | Jalkeot |
| Country: | India |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 28,000 |
| World Population: | 28,000 |
| Primary Language: | Assamese |
| Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.24 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Dalit - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Jalkeot people have a name that is derived from two words. Jal means either "net" or "water" since traditionally they have been fishermen.
Where Are they Located?
The Jalkeot people live in Assam, a state in northeastern India.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The Jalkeot people are Hindu, and Brahmin priests preside over their wedding ceremonies. Adult marriages are the norm, and their marriages are monogamous. They no longer have a bride price like they did before India's independence in 1947.
They had a low literacy rate before independence, but now the Assamese government is taking steps towards raising the literacy rate.
Traditionally the Jalkeot people were fishermen. Most of them still fish for a living, but many of them are now farmers or small business owners. They are members of the All Assam Scheduled Caste Development Community. As scheduled caste members, they have low status in India.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Almost all of the Jalkeot people are Hindu. As members of a scheduled caste, they have low enough status that they are likely to have some openness to the gospel if someone goes to them.
What Are Their Needs?
As you can see from the section to the right entitled "Ministry Resources" there are many good tools for sharing the gospel with the Jalkeot people. They speak Assamese, which is one of the key languages of northeastern India. Many of the surrounding peoples of this part of India have strong churches. Some of these believers need to go to them.
Prayer Points
Pray that believers from other states in India will go as His ambassadors to the Jalkeot people.
Pray that Christian resources in the Assamese language will become readily available to the Jalkeot people.
Pray for spiritual openness to the gospel of peace and to the Savior.