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People group profile · PG046192

The Shaikh (Bhojpuri) of India

The Shaikh (Bhojpuri) of India, numbering about 1,385,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a large socio-religious community of India. Shaiks are Muslim communities who claim descent from Arab settlers or early Islamic migrants or traders and who adopted the title "Shaikh" as a mark of status or identity.

They are an indigenous people in the Shaikh people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Bhojpuri.

Pray for the Shaikh (Bhojpuri)Print profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Shaikh (Bhojpuri) people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash: Bhojpuri Shaikh

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
1,385,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Shaikh
Primary language
Bhojpuri (bho)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia

Where they live

Gospel status

The Shaikh (Bhojpuri) 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 Shaikh (Bhojpuri)

  • 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

Sunni Islam · Islam

99% adherents

Primary language

Bhojpuri · Indo-European family

100% speak Bhojpuri

Gospel resources in Bhojpuri

  • Bible available, published 2007
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Shaikh (Bhojpuri)

  1. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  2. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  3. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  4. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.

Download a prayer guide

Shaikh (Bhojpuri) in other countries

The same people (ROP3 116689) is reported in 1 other country.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
Shaikh (Bhojpuri)Nepal328,000Unengaged and Unreached

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