Introduction / History

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?

The Megh people are mainly an agricultural community. They farm and raise livestock, especially sheep. They are famous for their weaving skills and embroidery.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Megh people are almost all Hindu, but there are some Muslims among them. Muslims in South Asia often blend Hindu practices with their form of Islam. Officially Muslim Megh people are dedicated to Allah, the God of Islam, but in reality, they look elsewhere for their daily spiritual and physical needs.

What Are Their Needs?

The Muslim Megh people need to find their way back to the God of Creation and put all their faith in Jesus Christ.

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 Christ and be able to teach it accurately to others in their community until there is a movement to Christ. Pray for an improvement in living conditions for this low caste community, for educational opportunities for the children, and employment opportunities for the adults. Pray for spiritual hunger among their elders that will open them to responding to the claims of Christ.

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

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghwal