Ulladan in India

The Ulladan 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

Ulladan are so called because they come from the interior forests. Ullu means inside parts and ulladan can mean interior people. Yet there is another story behind this name. Before the advent of British Empire, a group of soldiers belonging to Central Travancore in Kerala, went to forests with their families to protect their lives from the internal warfare between local kings. They settled themselves in the forests. After being in exile for several years some of them returned to their native places. Locals called them Ulkadans, means forest dwellers with the implication that they possess the nature of forest dwellers. That term Ulkadans shortened and became Ulladans after a period of time.
Those who eked out a living by hunting and eating root vegetables and fruits had to seek new avenues for living when they migrated to the towns. At that time, the feudal lords, who were high caste people, gave them safe haven by making them their tenants. Cultivating their lands and working the fields, the Ulladan were able to start new lives. Dependents of their feudal masters, they faced social discrimination and were deprived of education.
In the 1970s many Ulladans received lands adjacent to the forests, thanks to the land reforms implemented by the government. As a result, many migrated to the lands in the vicinity of the forests. In order to protect themselves from the attack of wild beasts they made huts on the trees and lived there. Natural calamities and epidemics took its toll and made their life all the more miserable.
Ulladans live in lands near the forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Hunting and fishing are part and parcel of their life. Although development is taking place under the control of the government, their standard of living is low and educationally backward. Liquor consumption and smoking are prevalent among them. Irrespective of age they chew betel and other pan. They have their own dialect and terminology.
Each locality has one elder. The elder will preside over important issues and matters concerning marriage and death.
Earlier child marriage prevailed among them. When the boy or girl becomes 5-6 years old, parents find a bride or bridegroom for their child. Both parties confirm the marriage by word. The families conduct the wedding when the boy is seven. After that, the bride lives in the bridegroom's house. A girl's coming of age is trumpeted as another marriage ceremony called Thirandu kalyanam.
The dead are washed and wrapped in new clothes as part of post death ceremony. There is a practice of applying oil over the dead by the relatives. Another custom is to spread linen cloth over the dead by the relatives. After this the body is buried.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Few of the Ulladans believe in a life after death. They offer prayer in temples and believe in witchcraft.


What Are Their Needs?

The Ulladan people need a John 10:10 blessing: The abundant life Jesus offers those who are willing to submit to his lordship.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Ulladan culture to be renewed and enhanced by a work of the Holy Spirit and shaped into a God-centered and God-honoring mold.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among their family and community leaders to seek his face and enjoy his blessings.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will be compelled to nurture a disciple making movement among the Ulladan people.
Pray that soon the Ulladan people will have faith that will lead them to live honorable lives that will draw others to the savior.
Pray for workers to be raised up to minister among the Ulladans.


Scripture Prayers for the Ulladan in India.


References

Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Ulladan
People Name in Country Ulladan
Alternate Names Kochuvelan; Nadi; Nayadi; Ullatan; उल्लदन
Population this Country 20,000
Population all Countries 20,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18282
ROP3 Code 113826
ROP25 Code 308449
ROP25 Name Ulladan
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 3
Largest States
Kerala
19,000
Tamil Nadu
400
Puducherry
30
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 3
  Kerala 19,000
  Tamil Nadu 400
  Puducherry 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
3.84 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
95.07 %
Islam
0.15 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.93 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Malayalam (18,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Tamil
100
Primary Language Malayalam (18,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Tamil 100
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
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 Malayalam Jesus Film Project
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 Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Philipose Vaidyar  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024