People group profile · PG042050
The Soligaru of India
The Soligaru of India, numbering about 50,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a tribal community of the hilly areas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with five subdivisions and hierarchical clans, traditionally shifting cultivators and forest foragers who have transitioned to forest and agricultural labor.
They are an indigenous people in the South Asian Tribal people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism, and they primarily speak Sholaga.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 50,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- South Asian Tribal
- Primary language
- Sholaga (sle)
- Primary religion
- Folk Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Karnataka: Mysore district, Biligiri Rangana hills; Tamil Nadu state
Where they live
Gospel status
The Soligaru are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Soligaru
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Folk Hinduism · Hinduism
99% adherents
Primary language
Sholaga · Dravidian family
100% speak Sholaga
Gospel resources in Sholaga
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Sikkiligar)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Soligaru
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
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