Drukpa 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

Drukpa people are dispersed across the three Asian nations of Bhutan, India and Nepal. They are found throughout Bhutan.
The language of the Drukpa is called Dzongkha, which comes from two words, kha ( 'language ') and Dzong ( 'fortress '). Therefore, Dzongkha is 'the language spoken in the fortress '. These stone fortresses 'dominate the mountainous landscape of Bhutan from east to west and have traditionally been both centers of military and political power as well as centers of learning.' Bhutan was closed off to the rest of the world for centuries, as the dragon held this group under the tight grip of Tibetan Buddhism.
One source states, 'They inhabit hilly terrains of high altitude marked by extreme cold, high rainfall, medium snowfall and dense forests.' The Drukpa live in the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and West Bengal. The first Drukpa moved to India during the latter half of the 7th century, when they conducted raids into today's north-east India. Some Drukpa have migrated into Nepal where they primarily operate as traders out of Kathmandu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In India, some of the Drukpa have not been given status as a Scheduled Tribe, while others appear under the generic term Bhotia, which includes various groups of Tibetan origin.
In India, where at least five ministries are working among them, there are an estimated 210 Drukpa Christians. One Drukpa recalls how he came to faith in Christ: 'In 1992 I was riding my motorbike on a very clear sunny day. Suddenly, my vision went blank followed by a gripping sense of darkness. I crashed my motorbike and could not move half of my body. I was a devout Buddhist and faithfully served our god. I sent my wife to ask the lama concerning my condition. The lama told my wife that some people had sent an evil spirit to kill me and that I would die within a week. My sister-in-law was already a Christian. When she heard of my condition, she brought along her Christian friends to my house. They started praying and applied oil on the paralyzed part of my body. Immediately I was able to move. I was completely healed. They preached Christ to me, and I readily gave my life to Jesus.' He later went on to help translate the New Testament into the Dzongkha language, and he has personally led more than 100 Drukpa people to faith in Christ.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Drukpa believe that they have been Buddhists since the Tibetan sage Padmasambhava flew across the Himalayas on the back of a tiger and introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in AD 746. Only in recent years has the gospel started to gain a foothold. The Lord is moving among the Drukpa people in India.


What Are Their Needs?

The Drukpa people in India need to put all their faith in the one who came to give life to the full. Instead, they rely on the spirit world, which offers them nothing but pain and misery.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Drukpa people to have hearts that are open to the abundant blessings of Jesus Christ.
Pray for their families to prosper financially and spiritually as they experience a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among the Drukpa that will spread joy, peace and salvation to thousands in India.


Scripture Prayers for the Drukpa in India.


References

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Drukpa
People Name in Country Drukpa
Alternate Names Bhotia; Bhutanese; Drukpu; Druku; Dukpa; Jonkha; Krukke; Lachengpa; Lachungpa; Ngalong; Ngarung; Rezongkha; Sikami; Thompa; Zongkhar; द्रकपा
Population this Country 15,000
Population all Countries 237,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16745
ROP3 Code 111992
ROP25 Code 302194
ROP25 Name Drukpa
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 11
Largest States
West Bengal
9,300
Assam
2,300
Arunachal Pradesh
1,100
Sikkim
700
Manipur
500
Nagaland
400
Meghalaya
200
Himachal Pradesh
80
Chhattisgarh
20
Tripura
20
Tamil Nadu
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 11
  West Bengal 9,300
  Assam 2,300
  Arunachal Pradesh 1,100
  Sikkim 700
  Manipur 500
  Nagaland 400
  Meghalaya 200
  Himachal Pradesh 80
  Chhattisgarh 20
  Tripura 20
  Tamil Nadu 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
96.13 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
3.87 %
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 Dzongkha (15,000 speakers)
Language Code dzo   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Dzongkha (15,000 speakers)
Language Code dzo   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Dzongkha
Photo Source Steve Evans - Flickr  Creative Commons 
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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