Nihal Bhil in India

The Nihal Bhil 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 Nahal are an indigenous people who live in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Most live in forested, hilly rural areas away from the cities. Traditionally, the Nahal were nomadic hunter-gathers. In recent times they have settled down to live in one area. Their primary means of living is agriculture and animal husbandry. They work on land owned by others and receive a place to live and a small wage for their labor. The Nahal are a Scheduled Tribe meaning that they are guaranteed pubic jobs and special consideration for university admissions. Unfortunately, the Nahal have not been taking advantage of these privileges. The Nahal speak their own languages of Nimadi and Bhili. Some men are able to speak Hindi, so they are able to communicate with outsiders. Illiteracy is a huge issue for the tribal Nahal people. The gospel must be shared with them in oral and visual forms. A tiny fraction of the Nahal claim to be followers of Jesus.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Nahal live impoverished lives both spiritually and materially. Many Nahal children to not attend school. If the crops they are growing fail, the Nahal face starvation. As a tribal people, the Nahal face discrimination in the Hindu caste system. The Nahal are monogamous, which means marriage is between one man and one woman. The Nahal marry within their own group. They have caste councils and village elders to look after them and settle legal disputes. Most Nahal work as agricultural laborers for others. Some work as tenants on tea, coffee, palm and coconut plantations.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Nahal claim to be Hindus. Their brand of Hinduism is heavily influenced by folk religion and ancestor worship. The identity of the Nahal is in being Hindu, so when people take the gospel to them, they are likely to feel threatened by the idea of making the God of the Bible their only God. They believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature such as rocks, tree, animals and rivers. These evil spirits must be placated, or they can bring disaster upon the Nahal. They go to a village shaman for spiritual and medical needs.


What Are Their Needs?

The Nahal people need to accept the abundant life that only Jesus can offer them. The Nahal would benefit from solar panels being installed in their villages. They need modern medicine and access to clean water. The Nahal need to learn literacy and new job skills. Most of all the Nahal must hear and understand the gospel of Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and deliver them from their fear of evil spirits.


Prayer Points

Pray that the council and village leaders of the Nahal come to Jesus Christ and lead others to Him. Pray that gospel recordings will lead them to salvation. Pray the Bible becomes available in the language of Nimadi. Pray that Indian believers go to the Nahal and tell them about the Lord Jesus. Pray that God raises up a disciple making movement among the Nahal in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhil Nihal in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Bhil Nihal
People Name in Country Bhil Nihal
Natural Name Nihal Bhil
Alternate Names Nahal; भील निहाल
Population this Country 392,000
Population all Countries 392,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 8
People ID 21018
ROP3 Code 117870
ROP25 Code 301152
ROP25 Name Bhil
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 2
Largest States
Madhya Pradesh
343,000
Maharashtra
49,000
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 2
  Madhya Pradesh 343,000
  Maharashtra 49,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.34 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.20 %
Islam
0.92 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.52 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (95,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 19
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhili
88,000
Nimadi
87,000
Nahali
25,000
Marathi
11,000
Khandesi
9,300
Vasavi
3,500
Bareli, Rathwi
3,300
Bareli, Pauri
1,900
Dangi
1,200
Malvi
1,100
Gujarati
500
Sindhi Bhil
500
Korwa
400
Dungra Bhil
400
Bareli, Palya
400
Primary Language Hindi (95,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 19
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhili 88,000
  Nimadi 87,000
  Nahali 25,000
  Marathi 11,000
  Khandesi 9,300
  Vasavi 3,500
  Bareli, Rathwi 3,300
  Bareli, Pauri 1,900
  Dangi 1,200
  Malvi 1,100
  Gujarati 500
  Sindhi Bhil 500
  Korwa 400
  Dungra Bhil 400
  Bareli, Palya 400
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  (1818-2022)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
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 Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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
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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