Dusadh (Muslim traditions) in India

People Name:	Dusadh (Muslim traditions)
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	15,000
World Population:	17,300
Primary Language:	Bengali
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Muslim - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Traditionally the Dosadh people were a low status community. They were once palanquin bearers, which indicates low status. They were noted for their criminal behavior. Some robbed travelers.

They claim that a prince, Dushasan, is their forbearer. In 1857, both Hindus and Muslims were revolting against England's East India Company, but the British managed to raise an army partly from the Dosadh people, and they prevailed. This led to the British crown holding far more power in South Asia than ever before.

Where Are they Located?

Muslim Dodsadh people live in India and Bangladesh.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Largely because of their low status, these people have had to find creative, though often demeaning ways of making a living. They are famous for catching wild animals, extracting honey from beehives, and making fans from peacock feathers. Others have even lower status jobs such as taking insects off the backs of cattle. Some of them even beg for a living. They are often unemployed because other communities either think they don't have the right agricultural skills or they view them as thieves and criminals.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Dosadh are mainly Hindu, even those who live in Muslim Bangladesh. There are Muslims among them, but the Hindus are in the majority. Like other Muslim peoples in South Asia who converted to Islam during the Moghul Empire, the Dosadh have maintained many Hindu elements in their form of Sunni Islam.

What Are Their Needs?

Workers need to note the poverty of the Dosadh community and not neglect their material and physical needs. Believers need to serve these people by helping them improve their economic situation. Believers must build friendships based on trust.

Prayer Points

Pray for Dodsadh families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross.
Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers Dodsadh disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for the Dodsadh people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.