Rongmei in India

The Rongmei have only been reported 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

The Rongmei people, like the larger Naga tribe, were once headhunters. According to Rongmei tradition, when a young man turns 17 or 18, he is considered a warrior. In order to prove his worth as a warrior, he has to collect the head of an enemy from another village. The Rongmei are believed to have come from Mongolia through China and then into South Asia. For this reason they have Mongoloid facial features. The Rongmei are spread out in three states of northeastern India:Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. They mostly live in villages in the hills and forests. Nine of 10 Rongmei claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. The New Testament is available in the main language of the Rongmei, Inpui Naga.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The houses of the Rongmei are mostly made of wood with a thatched roof. They hunt for game and gather other food sources from the forest. Since the forest receives heavy rainfall, edible plants of all kinds are abundant. The Rongmei also engage in small scale agriculture and animal husbandry.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The large majority of the Rongmei claim to follow Jesus Christ due to decades of missionary activity in northeast Indian. However, for many Rongmei their Christianity is superficial and they continue to practice animism, the belief that spirits inhabit the objects of nature. The Rongmei need to learn to read so they are read the Bible in their language and grow spiritually.


What Are Their Needs?

This people need to know more about the teaching of Jesus. Many Rongmei still think that Christianity is a western religion. There is a need for more Bible trained pastors who would spend time living with the Rongmei and testifying of the living God. Providing for physical needs is also necessary since there is a lack of modern medicine and electricity.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Rongmei people to read the New Testament in their language. Pray for the Lord to raise up trained pastors and teachers who can instruct the Rongmei in the teachings of the Bible. Pray for a disciple making movement to flourish among the Rongmei people this decade. Pray for true Rongmei disciples to take the gospel to other peoples in their area.


Scripture Prayers for the Rongmei in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Rongmei
People Name in Country Rongmei
Alternate Names Kabui; Kabul; Puimei; रॉंगमेई
Population this Country 118,000
Population all Countries 118,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 17033
ROP3 Code 112369
ROP25 Code 305781
ROP25 Name Naga
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 8
Largest States
Manipur
114,000
Nagaland
2,600
Assam
1,100
Delhi
200
Meghalaya
100
Arunachal Pradesh
50
Tripura
50
Chandigarh
20
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 8
  Manipur 114,000
  Nagaland 2,600
  Assam 1,100
  Delhi 200
  Meghalaya 100
  Arunachal Pradesh 50
  Tripura 50
  Chandigarh 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.26 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
92.32 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
1.51 %
Islam
0.34 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.07 %
Unknown
5.50 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Naga, Inpui (87,000 speakers)
Language Code nkf   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 38
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Naga, Rongmei
8,900
Naga, Liangmai
800
Naga, Zeme
700
Hindi
600
Chin, Thado
200
Meitei
200
Gangte
200
Vaiphei
100
Hmar
50
English
40
Khasi
40
Naga, Tangkhul (India)
30
Chin, Paite
20
Naga, Mao
20
Kuvi
10
Primary Language Naga, Inpui (87,000 speakers)
Language Code nkf   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 38
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Naga, Rongmei 8,900
  Naga, Liangmai 800
  Naga, Zeme 700
  Hindi 600
  Chin, Thado 200
  Meitei 200
  Gangte 200
  Vaiphei 100
  Hmar 50
  English 40
  Khasi 40
  Naga, Tangkhul (India) 30
  Chin, Paite 20
  Naga, Mao 20
  Kuvi 10
People Groups Speaking Naga, Inpui

Primary Language:  Naga, Inpui

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2000)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2011)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Sumita Roy Dutta - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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