Deshia Project

Deshia speaking people reside in four districts of Odisha State: Rajguda, Goraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur, with some inhabiting urban areas also. A survey indicates that approximately 1.5 million individuals speak in Deshia. Their ancestors served in the courts of the Thandiyada king in Chhattisgarh State. Due to certain circumstances, the king intended to eliminate a portion of them, prompting most to flee and establish themselves in Odisha State. The Deshia language is not confined to a specific social group. It is spoken by various tribal communities, including Badra, Gaudo, Parja, Saura, Mali, Deli, Dam, Makali, Koshia, Hati, Apnith, Kyutto, Thakat, Thabi, Bisay, and Piramisht.

Food habits of Deshia People:

Rice constitutes the primary component of their diet, consumed at all three meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They often accompany rice with vegetables and, on occasion, include non-vegetarian dishes, cakes, and sweets. When relatives visit, it is customary for them to offer non-vegetarian food and grape-based liquor to their guests. Failing to provide these items may discourage future visits from relatives, making these offerings essential to their hospitality practices.

Occupation of Deshia People:

These individuals typically engage in small-scale labor, work for daily wages, or serve as laborers in farms. Generally, they experience economic hardship, residing in huts constructed with mud walls and thatched roofs.

In relation to their matrimonial customs, the family of the groom visits the residence of the bride on three separate occasions. The initial visit is to propose the union. The second visit serves to establish a preliminary agreement. During the third visit, the marriage contract is finalized, at which point the ‘bride price’ is determined. This price, which is the amount the groom’s family is required to pay to the bride’s family, is established through discussions between both families. During the intervals of the two agreements, the groom’s family is expected to host a feast for all the villagers in the bride’s community. The marriage ceremony takes place at the bride’s home, where both the bride and groom apply a mixture of turmeric powder and oil to their bodies, followed by the application of colors. Many of these traditional practices continue to be observed among these communities.

Education and Christianity:

• Literacy rate is 75%.
• Christian population is 5%.

Rev. Prof. Panneer Selvam had vision give the Bible in Deshia Language. He selected Rev. Asha for project and the Gospel of Mark was translated by him and released by Capt. V. Siga in Logos camp 1992 on 9th May at Stanes School Hr. Sec. School, Coimbatore. Subsequently, Mr. Christdan Nomrosil who was an IBT missionary since 1998 has been appointed as translator by Rev. Prof. S. Panneer Selvam in 2002. The translation workshops were conducted in six sessions at the IBT center, two at the BSI office, Bangalore and one in Ranchi. The translator started translating the New Testament in Deshia Language and Gospel of Luke was released by Mrs. Sudandiradevi Panneer Selvam in Silver Jubilee Camp at Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore in 2004. The Gospel of John was published in 2005. The New Testament was subsequently released on 2nd May 2010 by JELC Bishop of Jaipur, Rt. Rev. Subash Chandra Gowda at the JELC church in Nobrongpur, Odisha. Following this, the New Testaments were distributed to the Deshia speaking people of Odisha. The Old Testament (OT) training was given to him. In 2013, the translation of the OT began and completed in 2017. The Vision of the IBT is that the Bible should reach even to the illiterate people. Therefore, in collaboration with World Cassette Outreach of India (WCOI), Audio Device containing the New Testament of Deshia language is dedicated and released by Rev. Jayachandran and Mr. S. Rajasekaran on 02.06.2023 at the IBT Centre. Again, it is re-released on 13.01.2024 at Katharagada, Odisha and distributed to Deshia language speaking people. Children Bible was released by Saththiya Vaarthai Editor Mr. K. Jaisingh on 11th May 2024 at Logos camp 2024 in Anaikatty, Coimbatore. Currently, the correction and keying work for the OT in process. During this timeframe, BSI successfully completed nine books of the OT across three sessions held in Damonjodi, Semiliguda in Odisha and BSI in Bangalore. The complete Bible is planned to be released in 2028. We need financial support initially to print 1000 copies which costs Rs. 600/- per Bible approximately. Mr. Christdan Namrosil is the current translator.

IBT Publications in Deshia Language:

• The Gospel of Mark was released by Capt. V. Siga in Logos camp 1992 on 9th May at Stanes School Hr. Sec. School, Coimbatore.
• Gospel of Luke was released by Mrs. Sudandiradevi Panneer Selvam in Silver Jubilee Camp at Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore in 2004.
• The Gospel of John was published in 2005.
• The New Testament was released on 2nd May 2010 by JELC Bishop of Jaipur, Rt. Rev. Subash Chandra Gowda at the JELC church in Nobrongpur, Odisha.
• Audio Device containing the New Testament of Deshia language is dedicated and released by Rev. Jayachandran and Mr. S. Rajasekaran on 02.06.2023 at the IBT Centre. Again, it is re-released on 13.01.2024 at Katharagada, Odisha and distributed to Deshia language speaking people.
• Children Bible was released by Saththiya Vaarthai Editor Mr. K. Jaisingh on 11th May 2024 at Logos camp 2024 in Anaikatty, Coimbatore.
• The complete Bible is planned to be released in 2028 based on the exegetical checking by Bible Society of India. We need financial support initially to print 1000 copies which costs 800/- per Bible approximately.