After India gained independence, the Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh also began setting up schools, as well as hostels and hospitals, in remote areas. RSS leaders have repeatedly said they wanted to stop the spread of Christianity in these areas.

Now, in the face of pressure from both Hindus and Christians, Sarnas want their faith formally recognized, including as a box to check on the upcoming 2026 census. The push has put Christian and Hindu groups on edge, worried they’ll lose a political base. When they band together, Sarnas have the numbers to shift electoral outcomes.

Overall, 1 in 4 Jharkhand state residents call themselves “Adivasi” — those who have existed since the dawn of time. There are 32 Adivasi groups, including large ones like Oraon, Santhal and Munda. Among these groups, many follow the Sarna faith, and in the past decade, the battle for Adivasi religious identity has intensified.