Traditionally the Chanal people were sharecroppers and agricultural laborers for the powerful Rajputs. They had a patron-client relationship with them then, and they still do today.
The Chanal people are scattered throughout India's northern mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh.
They are almost all rural dwellers who farm for a living. Under the nautor scheme, landless peoples like the Chanals were given land to farm, but the yield was so poor in this mountainous region that it wasn't sufficient for their needs. They have to make ends meet by working for others or doing petty business. Many of their children have to work. The Chanal people have benefitted from development projects in the last couple of decades. Projects have brought them electricity, drinking water, roads, post offices, banks, health care facilities and schools. Unfortunately, these Dalits still suffer from a low literacy rate, and many are not aware of health care methods.
Most of the Chanal people are Hindu. Operation World tells us that there are only about one in 1,000 who follow Christ in Himachal Pradesh. The mountainous terrain makes it especially difficult for them to hear new ideas from outside. The Chanal people also speak their own dialect, which isolates them even further. They are among the most difficult people group to reach with the gospel.
The Chanal people need the opportunity to find the only Savior, Jesus Christ, who came that they might have life to the full.
Pray that the Lord will somehow send his gospel message to the Chanal people in Himachal Pradesh.
Pray for loving workers who will work with the Chanal people until they have their own movement to Christ.
Pray for Chanal elders and leaders to open their hearts to the ways of Jesus Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Chanal in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Chanal |
People Name in Country | Chanal |
Alternate Names | Chunal; Hali; चानाल |
Population this Country | 30,000 |
Population all Countries | 30,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 4 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 16606 |
ROP3 Code | 111812 |
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 | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
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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 | 5 |
Himachal Pradesh 29,000 | |
Haryana 200 | |
Punjab 100 | |
Uttar Pradesh 70 | |
Chandigarh 60 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
1.17 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
98.57 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.26 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Hindi (8,200 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 12 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (8,200 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 12 |
Secondary Languages | |
Mandeali 4,500 | |
Chambeali 2,100 | |
Kangri 2,000 | |
Pahari, Mahasu 2,000 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 1,500 | |
Pahari, Kullu 1,500 | |
Bhattiyali 1,400 | |
Sirmauri 900 | |
Churahi 200 | |
Bilaspuri 200 | |
Kinnauri 80 | |
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 (1835-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
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. |