South Asian, general in Germany

Introduction / History

In the 1950s and 1960s only a few South Asians came to Germany. At first a few thousand young men came from India and Pakistan to find work or for college education. They chose Germany because it was well off financially, good for education, not a colonial power, and Germany had good relations with India.

They were not in unskilled work for long. Most of them gained a good education leading to much better jobs.

The South Asians were scattered in Germany with no large communities, and they had a lot of contact with Germans. Many married German women. Other South Asian men married in their own countries and brought South Asian wives to Germany. Most of their children attend universities, helping them to maintain the middle class status of their parents.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, thousands of young Christian women from the Indian state of Kerala came to work in hospitals as qualified or trainee nurses. Shortly a Malayali (people from Kerala) community. After living for some time in Germany, most had arranged marriages in India or married one of the other Malayali immigrants to Germany. Malayali speaking families began to form. Unlike other South Asian peoples in Germany, most young Malayalis have lived in an Indian community with their own societies and are going to Malayali schools. Their parents want their children to have professional standing; careers in medical work are their favorite.

There are other South Asians in Germany including Sikh asylum seekers from the Punjab, Ahmadi (Muslim sect) asylum seekers from Pakistan and Tamils seeking asylum from Sri Lanka.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Germany's South Asian populations maintain a middle class status. Their children continue to attend universities.

Though the South Asians in Germany come from various backgrounds and languages, those from Kerala are dominant.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Germany's South Asians can be Muslim, Christian, Sikh or Hindu. A slight majority are Hindu. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the high caste Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus, even those in Germany, participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.

What Are Their Needs?

These people need to put their hope and identity in the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Prayer Points

Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen South Asian communities in Germany.

Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the South Asians in Germany.

Pray for the South Asian people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.

Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the South Asian people to change their society from within.

Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers disciples to make more disciples.

Text Source:   Joshua Project