Sarna Faith Gains Momentum in India, Challenging Religious Landscape Ahead of Census
ranchi, Jharkhand, India - For Kamle Oraon, 50, memories of childhood hunger are inextricably linked to a time when her community lacked basic necessities. But those early years also shaped a deep connection to her ancestral faith – Sarna, an ancient, nature-worshipping tradition – a faith now at the forefront of a growing movement for religious recognition in India.
For decades, villages in Jharkhand, a state in eastern India characterized by dense jungles, have faced challenges including limited access to sanitation, healthcare, and education. During the colonial period, Christian missionaries stepped in, establishing schools even in the most remote areas. Oraon herself attended one, learning hymns and prayers, yet remained steadfast in her Sarna beliefs.
“They made me sing hymns, pray to Jesus Christ and even gave me a Christian name,” Oraon recalls. “But I did not convert.”
Following India’s independence, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group, also began establishing a presence in these areas, building schools, hostels, and hospitals. RSS leaders have openly stated their intention to curb the spread of Christianity. Now, the sarna community finds itself caught between these two powerful forces, and is demanding formal recognition of their faith – including a dedicated category on the upcoming 2026 census.
A Growing Political Force
This push for recognition isn’t simply about religious identity; it’s about political power. roughly one in four residents of Jharkhand identify as “Adivasi” - the indigenous people of India, encompassing 32 distinct groups like the Oraon, Santhal, and Munda. Many within these groups practise the Sarna faith.
The stakes are high. Recent political shifts demonstrate the potential impact of the Sarna community. A December 2024 survey by the Center for the Study of Developing Societies revealed a divided Adivasi electorate: 49% of those identifying as Hindu voted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while 44% of Christian Adivasis supported the opposition.
However, it was the Adivasis who didn’t identify with either religion that proved decisive.The opposition coalition, led by the pro-Sarna Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party, secured victory in the November 2024 state assembly elections, largely due to support in constituencies where sarna recognition was a key campaign issue. The BJP won only one such constituency.
“We have realized that we were silent for far too long,” says Bandhu Tirkey, a Congress Party politician actively campaigning for a seperate Sarna designation in the census.
A battle for identity
The Sarna movement represents a broader struggle for Adivasi religious identity, which has intensified over the past decade. Formal recognition would not only validate the faith of millions but also possibly shift the political landscape of Jharkhand, giving the Sarna community a stronger voice and a greater ability to influence electoral outcomes.
The prospect of this shift has put both Christian and Hindu groups on edge, fearing a loss of their established political bases. As the 2026 census approaches, the battle for Adivasi religious identity is poised to become a defining moment in India’s complex and evolving religious landscape.
Keywords: India, Jharkhand, Adivasi, Sarna, Religion, Census, Hinduism, Christianity, RSS, Political Identity, Indigenous Faith, Religious Freedom, Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
