Rautia in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

A small group of the Rautia or Raute people live in central and northern Bangladesh. A much larger population of this people lives in northeast India. According to tradition, they were a tribal militia who helped a prince and received land as a payment for their services. Their name Rautias means "lesser Rajput." After receiving their land, they took up the profession as farmers, a job deemed below the status of a Rajput.

The Rautia live mainly in villages with other castes. They grow rice, wheat, millet, sugarcane, vegetables and fruit on their farms. Some Rautias have moved to cities and taken up other occupations such as factory workers, public administrators and shopkeepers. Many Rautia are unable to read and write. The primary language of the Rautia is a dialect of Hindi called Sadri. Many also speak Bengali, the major language of the area where they live.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Rautia people live in a similar way as their ancestors did, tilling the soil of Bangladesh. Many of their villages do not have electricity, access to clean water or indoor plumbing. Many young Rautias have left the rural life to pursue educational and economic opportunities in urban centers.

The eldest son in many Rautia families inherits all or half of his father's property. It is the duty of the eldest brother to give land and property to his younger brothers. The Rautia generally marry within their caste. Often they marry their cousins. They sometimes will marry outsiders who have nearly the same rank as theirs in the Hindu caste system.

The Rautia bury their dead. They employ Brahmins to officiate at their important family rituals like births, weddings and funerals. Caste councils promote their interests and settle legal disputes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Rautias practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India along with folk religion. The Rautias venerate their ancestors and try to ward off evil spirits with rituals. The Rautias worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Rautias visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Rautias people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday. There are no known believers among the Rautia of Bangladesh.


What Are Their Needs?

The Rautias need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need to see the love and mercy of Christ lived out before them in practical ways. They need help in educating their children and in gaining access to modern medicine.


Prayer Points

Pray that the tiny number of Rautia believers in India would grow and be established in the faith.
Pray that many of the Rautia people will come to love God with their whole being and will walk in His ways.
Pray that God will overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of His gospel among the Rautia people in India and Bangladesh.


Scripture Prayers for the Rautia in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Rautia
People Name in Country Rautia
Alternate Names Baraik; Ganjhu; Gonju; Kotwar; Raute; रौतिया
Population this Country 147,000
Population all Countries 148,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
People ID 17949
ROP3 Code 113438
ROP25 Code 306966
ROP25 Name Rautia
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 9
Largest States
Jharkhand
119,000
West Bengal
18,000
Bihar
7,700
Odisha
1,600
Chhattisgarh
700
Meghalaya
200
Nagaland
200
Manipur
30
Andaman and Nicobar
10
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 9
  Jharkhand 119,000
  West Bengal 18,000
  Bihar 7,700
  Odisha 1,600
  Chhattisgarh 700
  Meghalaya 200
  Nagaland 200
  Manipur 30
  Andaman and Nicobar 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.15 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.85 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (54,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Sadri
41,000
Bengali
16,000
Magahi
6,800
Bhojpuri
3,300
Odia
1,700
Panchpargania
1,700
Assamese
40
Primary Language Hindi (54,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Sadri 41,000
  Bengali 16,000
  Magahi 6,800
  Bhojpuri 3,300
  Odia 1,700
  Panchpargania 1,700
  Assamese 40
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children 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 for Children Bible for Children
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 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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Philippe Billois 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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