BIT-LIT

Bible Translation And Literacy For Indian Tribals Trust

Man shall not live for bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Mathew 4:4

VISION: REACHING INDIAN TRIBES WITH TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST IN THEIR OWN HEART LANGUAGES

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word…Math:4:4 In India, the latest figures tell us about 51 million of the population are Scheduled Tribes. It is nearly 7.76% of the India’s total population. They do differ in racially and linguistically among themselves. They are the most neglected and economically backward people and most receptive groups for Gospel in India. We are a group of Christian missionaries have started a Mission organization called “Bible translation and literacy for Indian Tribals Trust – in Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu south india .Later it was moved to Coimbatore by God’s will. After wider survey and field works and after gaining much knowledge about the people groups and their culture in the past five years, we are prayerfully sending evangelists into of these un-reached communities.These fore-runner missionaries are either a social worker, vocational teacher or an Evangelist who depend upon the opening that exist in the people group. Missionary and Director Bro. W. Ebenezer Udayakumar was separated and led by God to work as a social worker and ordained pastor and while working, among a Tribal group of Tamilnadu, God gave him the vision to become a channel to the multitudes by way of giving the word of God in their own tongue. so that God would speak to every one of them with His words which is life and Spirit.

BIT-LIT Strategy

God is leading us in the ministry step by step, now we are the leaders of Bit-Lit Ministries which is working among Tribal People of South India namely Irulas and other three Tribes of the same Hill Area. We are doing the ministry of strategic co-ordination for Church Planting along with Bible Translation among Irulas and Church Planting among Badagas ,Todas, Kurmbas ,Kadar and Paniyas now and wish to continue in every possible tribal people group of India according to His leading and purpose. There are 24 Missionaries working in BIT-LIT at present.We have HOME Group leaders,Irula Evangelists,Badaga Evangelists,Toda Evangelists,Literacy workers, Mother Tongue translators,Administrative staff members and Voluntary Lay leaders. Please uphold all our staff members and their families to stand firm in the field for the Kingdom of God.And help us to provide for their needs every month.

PEOPLE Groups

THE IRULA

THE TODA

The name TODA is supposed to be derived from “tud” the sacred tud tree of toda. Toda dialect is an independent language of the Dravidian family. The uniqueness of their half barrel shaped houses given speculation regarding their origin ranged from Rome to Sumeria. The toda village is called a mund, means a herd or a cattle- pen .

THE KOTA

The derivation of the name kota is from the Dravida root Ko or Ku meaning mountain. They speak kota language. The Kota village is called a Kokkal represents linear type with two or three localities called Keris. Their traditional government is known as varad a white bed spread cloth is thrown around the body by men and women.

BADAGA

The Badaga people are an agricultural community who live in the Nilgiri Hills. They are concentrated in the Coonoor and Ootacamund taluks of the Nilgiris District. They had migrated to the Nilgiris about two centuries ago due to famine, political turmoil and oppression in the Mysore region. They prefer to call themselves Badaga, Badaga Gounder and Badugu, while others refer to them as Baduguru, Badaga Gounder and Vadugar. Some of them use the title Gowda as a suffix to their names. The Badaga population was 2,43,075 according to the 1991 Census.

THE KURUMBA

It is possible that their name originated from the tamil word kurumbu (mischief) because in their savage state they were very mischievous on the basis of their residents in nilgiris the kurumbasare identified as six district kurumba tribes. The kurumba settlement is called muttom .