Megh (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan


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

The Meghwal (or Megh) are a scheduled caste whose primary occupation is farming.

The Meghwal people are mostly in northern India and eastern Pakistan. Those in Pakistan speak Sindhi, Marwari and Saraki.

The Meghwals were originally Mahars from Maharashtra (meaning the place or land of the Mahars) and a very low caste group. To get away from their low caste status they migrated and changed their name 26 times as they came through Rajasthan and Sind 16 times.

When the Meghwals reached Baroda State in present-day Gujarat they approached the Christians to become part of their group. However, the Christians did not want them and turned them away.

Many of the Meghwals live on both sides of the Pakistan-India border. Around 1900 three major famines took place. Many of the Meghwal traveled across the "Rajasthan or Thar Desert" towards the Indus river to try and escape.

The Meghwals had been changing their names when they reached the Northeast of Rajasthan settled in the hills of Marwar taking on the language of Marwari.

Four major Meghwals groups known and recognized for the area from which they came, moved west into southern Punjab and Sind. There are other smaller groups they all speak Marwari. Meghwals in the southern Sind often are called Meghwar. A smaller group called themselves the Meg or Megh, moved north into the Sialkot area spoke Marwari and learned Punjabi. There is another Meghwal group that came through Gujarat and Sind that are called Sindhi Meghwals, they speak Saraki.

A few Meghwals (Megs) came to Christ in the 1860s. They were the ones that led the Punjabi Christian (Chuhras) to the Lord. Without the Megs there would be few Christians.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Nowadays, the caste prejudice against them has died down to a large extent except in some remote areas. They have achieved moderate progress in education and their literacy rate has been improving.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Hindus among the Megh community worship Ram Devji and Bankar Mataji as the chief god and goddess of the community.


What Are Their Needs?

Workers are needed to take the gospel message to this Hindu community in Pakistan.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord will give Megh families understanding and responsive hearts as they hear about the love of Christ.
Pray they will accurately understand the message of the gospel of Christ and be able to teach it accurately to others in their community.
Pray for an improvement in living conditions for this low caste community, for educational opportunities for the children, and employment opportunities for the adults.


Scripture Prayers for the Megh (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Meghwal (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Megh (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation meeg
Alternate Names Arya Megh; Arya-Megh; Bhagat; Ganeshia; Kabirpanthi; Meg; Megh; Meghbangsi; Meghbansi; Meghwal; Mihagh; Mihngh; Okhera; Rakhesar; Rakhia; Rikhia; Rishia; मेघ (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 405,000
Population all Countries 4,859,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 8
PeopleID3 17527
ROP3 Code 112948
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 3
Largest States
Sindh
377,000
Punjab
22,000
Balochistan
6,400
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 3
  Sindh 377,000
  Punjab 22,000
  Balochistan 6,400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.03 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.97 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Sindhi (212,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
Dhatki
106,000
Saraiki
35,000
Punjabi, Western
21,000
Marwari (India)
5,400
Marwari (Pakistan)
5,000
Kacchi
1,700
Urdu
1,200
Koli, Wadiyari
400
Goaria
200
Koli, Parkari
200
Bagri
200
Primary Language Sindhi (212,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
  Dhatki 106,000
  Saraiki 35,000
  Punjabi, Western 21,000
  Marwari (India) 5,400
  Marwari (Pakistan) 5,000
  Kacchi 1,700
  Urdu 1,200
  Koli, Wadiyari 400
  Goaria 200
  Koli, Parkari 200
  Bagri 200
People Groups Speaking Sindhi

Primary Language:  Sindhi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1825-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1890-1992)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1954)
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 Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sindhi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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 Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sindhi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Meena Kadri - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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