Korwa in India


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

Subgroups: 2

Subgroup Name Population
Kodaku 8,500
Agaria Korwa 1,200

Introduction / History

According to popular legend, the Korwa were the original inhabitants of the Surguja district in Madhya Pradesh. In the early 1900s they were leaders in the region and were dubbed as chiefs until more powerful and numerous conquerors invaded. They were later regarded as a wandering gang of looters. There remain two very distinct Korwa tribes: the Diharia (or Kisan), who are farmers, and the Paharia (or Benwaria), who live in the hills. These two tribes do not intermarry. The Korwa people are among what the Indian government calls the "scheduled tribes. " Because scheduled tribes are underdeveloped economically, the Indian government has attempted to bring them into the mainstream of political and economic life. These tribes were "scheduled" for special treatment and privileges. The Korwa people live in the hills, valleys, and forests of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Traditionally they spoke their own Korwa language, but today most speak Telugu, one of India's major languages.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Korwa are primarily farmers. They formerly used slash and burn agriculture, moving every two or three years to cultivate newly cleared plots. Rice, millet and vegetables were the principal crops. Their income was supplemented by selling forest products, particularly firewood. In recent years, many have become settled farmers. The geographical isolation of the Paharia Korwa (hills dwellers) and the lack of communication have reduced most of them to the position of farm servants. Few of them own their own land. A major portion of their farmlands has been mortgaged to the neighboring tribal and non-tribal communities. Korwa farmers seldom have agricultural surplus to take to market. When they do go to market, cunning merchants often take advantage of their lack of education and illiteracy, buying their products at absurdly low prices and making them loans at extremely high interest rates. The plains dwellers live in villages that are mixed with other tribal groups. Wooden or bush fences surround their farms or homesteads. The Korwa who live in the hills still lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle. The family is the basic social unit among the Korwa. They have a traditional family structure in which the father's word is law and is respected by all. Men and women are free to choose their own marriage partners, but the groom's family must pay a heavy bride price. Newlywed couples live with the grooms' parents until they are able to set up their own households. Men usually marry later in life because they have no means of supporting a family.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most are ethnic religionists who have been heavily influenced by Hinduism. Their main tribal god is called Dulha Deo. Those who live in the Surguja district worship Khuria Rani, a goddess who requires animal sacrifices. They also practice ancestor worship, calling on the spirits of their ancestors for blessings and guidance. They regard fire as sacred. In fact, fires are kept burning 24 hours a day in their houses to keep evil spirits away.


What Are Their Needs?

The Korwa people need training in skills that will help them flourish in the decades to come.


Prayer Points

Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Korwa people. Pray for the Korwa people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods. Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Korwa people to change their society from within. Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers disciples to make more disciples. Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Korwa communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Korwa in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Korwa
People Name in Country Korwa
Alternate Names Arasamakkalu; Diharia Korwa; Dihariya; Erakala; Ernga; Gangedula; Jangali; Kaikadi; Kisan Korwa; Kodaku; Kormakar; Kormangta; Korua; Korvi; Singli; कोरवा
Population this Country 537,000
Population all Countries 541,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 11
People ID 17273
ROP3 Code 112644
ROP25 Code 304230
ROP25 Name Korwa
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 20
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Telangana
193,000
Chhattisgarh
154,000
Karnataka
66,000
Assam
58,000
Jharkhand
42,000
Madhya Pradesh
10,000
West Bengal
3,500
Uttar Pradesh
1,800
Arunachal Pradesh
1,800
Maharashtra
1,700
Manipur
1,400
Goa
1,000
Odisha
1,000
Bihar
500
Nagaland
500
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 20
  Telangana 193,000
  Chhattisgarh 154,000
  Karnataka 66,000
  Assam 58,000
  Jharkhand 42,000
  Madhya Pradesh 10,000
  West Bengal 3,500
  Uttar Pradesh 1,800
  Arunachal Pradesh 1,800
  Maharashtra 1,700
  Manipur 1,400
  Goa 1,000
  Odisha 1,000
  Bihar 500
  Nagaland 500
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.08 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
97.41 %
Islam
0.07 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
1.43 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Telugu (152,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 46
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
99,000
Kannada
53,000
Korwa
48,000
Assamese
36,000
Chhattisgarhi
20,000
Bengali
12,000
Sadri
9,900
Magahi
6,700
Bhojpuri
3,000
Kurux
2,700
Odia
1,800
Tamil
1,400
Marathi
1,300
Sadri, Oraon
1,300
Konkani
1,300
Primary Language Telugu (152,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 46
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 99,000
  Kannada 53,000
  Korwa 48,000
  Assamese 36,000
  Chhattisgarhi 20,000
  Bengali 12,000
  Sadri 9,900
  Magahi 6,700
  Bhojpuri 3,000
  Kurux 2,700
  Odia 1,800
  Tamil 1,400
  Marathi 1,300
  Sadri, Oraon 1,300
  Konkani 1,300
People Groups Speaking Telugu

Primary Language:  Telugu

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Bible-New Testament Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1854-2022)
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General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
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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