People group profile · PG048980
The Neo-Buddhists of India
The Neo-Buddhists of India, numbering about 1,070,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a community of scheduled Caste converts to Buddhism inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's mass conversion movement beginning in 1956 at Nagpur. Agricultural and industrial labor remain common, alongside leather-work in some regions.
They are an indigenous people in the South Asian Buddhist people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Buddhism, and they primarily speak Marathi.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 1,070,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- South Asian Buddhist
- Primary language
- Marathi (mar)
- Primary religion
- Folk Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh states; Maharashtra: Belgaum, Bidar, and Karnataka districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Neo-Buddhists 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 but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Neo-Buddhists
- 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 Buddhism · Buddhism
99% adherents
Primary language
Marathi · Indo-European family
100% speak Marathi
Gospel resources in Marathi
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
Bibles
- 1993 Bible League International · audio, text
- Marathi New India Bible Version · video
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Neo-Buddhists
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
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