Mudhili Gadaba Bible — Gadaba (Mudhili) New Testament (India)
Overview
The Mudhili Gadaba Bible is a scripture translation (New Testament) in the Mudhili Gadaba language of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, India, published by Wycliffe Bible Translators (through WIN Publication Trust) and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 3566; abbreviation: GAU), with an audio edition produced in partnership with Hosanna/Wycliffe India. Mudhili Gadaba (ISO 639-3: gau; autonym: Gadaba) is a Dravidian language of the Kuvi-Gadaba sub-group within Central Dravidian — one of a cluster of related Gadaba languages spoken by the Gadaba tribal communities of the Koraput highland region.
Language and People
Mudhili Gadaba (ISO 639-3: gau; autonym: Gadaba) is a Dravidian language: Dravidian → South-Central Dravidian → Kuvi–Gadaba branch. The Gadaba languages include several related but distinct varieties: Mudhili Gadaba (gau), Bodo Gadaba (gbj), Pottangi Ollar Gadaba (gdb), and others. The Mudhili variety is named after the Mudhili clan area of the Koraput highlands. All Gadaba varieties are spoken by the Gadaba tribal community (Scheduled Tribe, Government of India), an indigenous forest-dwelling people of the Eastern Ghats.
The Mudhili Gadaba community inhabits:
- Koraput and Malkangiri Districts, Odisha, India — in the Eastern Ghats highland zone
- Adjacent areas of Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh
Estimated speakers: approximately 20,000–30,000 Mudhili Gadaba speakers (out of ~80,000 Gadaba people total across all varieties).
Cultural Context
The Gadaba tribal communities are among the "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups" (PVTGs) recognized by the Indian government — small, geographically isolated forest communities in the Eastern Ghats with distinct cultures, traditional governance (khamba councils), and animist religious practices. The Koraput district of Odisha is one of India's most tribally diverse regions, home to over two dozen distinct tribal communities including Kondh, Bonda, Dongria Kondh, and various Gadaba peoples. Wycliffe's NT publication provides mother-tongue scripture access for the Mudhili-speaking subset of this community.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators through WIN Publication Trust (Wycliffe India Network), with audio produced in partnership with Hosanna (Hosanna Recordings India).