How did the British brought the Muslim peasantry to Assam?
Initially, the British brought the Muslim peasantry from the over populated eastern Bengal to Brahmputra and Surma valleys in Assam for tea plantation as well as for the purpose of growing more food grains but the sequence of subsequent developments suggest that the descendents of the former Muslim rulers of Indian sub-continent with an objectiv...
What is the history of Assam?
The history of Assam is the history of a confluence of people from the east, west, south and the north; the confluence of the Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman (Sino-Tibetan), Tai and Indo-Aryan cultures.
How did Assam become a separate province of Bengal?
Assam was annexed by the British and made part of Bengal presidency in 1826. When the British partitioned Bengal in 1905 Assam became part of Muslim dominated East Bengal. In 1911 partition of Bengal was annulled and Assam again became a separate province.
How did the Muslim population in Assam increase after independence?
Gradually, the Muslim population in Assam, which was about nineteen lakhs in 1947, increased to about thirty-six lakhs within twenty-five years of Independence by 1972. B. K. Nehru, the Governor of Assam between 1968 and 1973, condemned the infiltration as vote bank politics by the Congress’ (Pioneer, 15 September, 2005).
Who formed Muslim League in Assam?
Muhammed SaadulahSir Syed Muhammad SaadullaBorn21 May 1885 GuwahatiDied8 January 1955 (aged 69)NationalityIndianPolitical partyAssam Valley Party (coalition under Assam United Muslim Party and INC later with AIML)16 more rows
Who was the first Muslim to invade Assam?
Muhammad Bine Bukhtiyar KhaljiMuhammad Bine Bukhtiyar Khalji was the first Muslim's invader who attacked Kamrup (Assam) in 1206 in the hope to conquer China through Assam.
In which year did the first Muslim invention take place in Assam?
The invasions of Assam by Islamic rulers began in 1206 when the Turko-Afghan Muhammad-i-Bakhtiyar passed through Kamarupa against Tibet. The last attempt was the Battle of Saraighat in 1671 under Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Is Assam a Muslim state?
In all Hindu form majority religion in 18 out of 27 districts of Assam state. The data for 2021 & 2022 is under process and will be updated in few weeks. Muslim Population in Assam is 1.07 Crore (34.22 percent) of total 3.12 Crore. Christian Population in Assam is 11.66 Lakhs (3.74 percent) of total 3.12 Crore.
Who ruled Assam before Ahoms?
The historical account of Assam begins with the establishment of Pushyavarman's Varman dynasty in the 4th century in the Kamarupa kingdom, which marks the beginning of Ancient Assam. The kingdom reached its traditional extent, from the Karatoya in the west to Sadiya in the east.
What is the old name of Assam?
PragjyotishaIn the ancient Sanskrit literature both the names 'Pragjyotisha' and 'Kamrupa' were used as designation for ancient Assam. Its antiquity can be established from the fact that it has been mentioned in the two great epics- The Mahabharata and the Ramayana and also in the Puranas.
Who is the first king of Assam?
Siu-ka-pha was the first Ahom king in Assam.
Who was the first Mughal invader in Assam?
The first Mughal-Ahom battle took place in 1615 when the Mughals attacked the Ahoms, then under Pratap Singha. This resulted in a period of Ahom-Mughal conflicts fluctuating fortunes that ended with the Treaty of Asurar Ali in 1639.
Who is the king of Assam?
Purandar Singha (1818–19, 1833–1838) was the last king of Ahom kingdom in Assam....Purandar Singha.Swargadeo Purandar SinghaBornAhom kingdomDiedAhom kingdomFatherBrajanath GohainReligionHinduism3 more rows
Who are the indigenous Muslims of Assam?
“Henceforth, five Muslim groups — Goria, Moria, Deshi, Jolha and Syed — will be known as indigenous Assamese Muslims,” he said. These groups have been classified according to the period in which they inhabited Assam or the communities they converted from.
Which religion is more in Assam?
In all, Hinduism is the majority religion in 18 out of 27 districts of Assam state. The Muslim population in Assam stands at 1.07 crore (34.22 per cent) of the total 3.12 crore, while the Christian population is 11.66 lakh (3.74 per cent).
How many Muslims are in Bengal?
According to the 2021 census estimation, West Bengal has over 30 million Muslims, making up 30.9% of the state's population. The vast majority of Muslims in West Bengal are ethnic Bengali Muslims, numbering around 27 million and comprising 26% of the state population.
What is the percentage of Hindu in Assam?
61.47%Hinduism is the largest religion of Assam, practiced by 61.47% of the population of the state as per as 2011 census report. The Hindus form majority religion in 18 out of 29 districts of Assam state.
How many Muslims are in Tripura?
Tripura Religion Census 2011 The data for 2021 & 2022 is under process and will be updated in few weeks. Muslim Population in Tripura is 3.16 Lakhs (8.60 percent) of total 36.74 Lakhs. Christian Population in Tripura is 1.60 Lakhs (4.35 percent) of total 36.74 Lakhs.
When did the first immigrant settle in Assam?
The first immigrant settlement occurred in the middle of the 13th century when Malik Ikhtiyaruddin Yuzbak in 1257 occupied some regions of Assam briefly. He introduced khutbah and Friday services. However he was soon defeated by Sandhya, the Rai of Kamarupa, who captured and executed him. : 39–40 In circa 1360, the Sultan of Bengal Sikandar Shah raided the Kamata kingdom and heavily weakened King Indranarayan's authority. However, Sikandar was forced to retreat to Bengal, in order to suppress the invasion of Firuz Shah Tughlaq of Delhi.
Why did the British settle in Assam?
These immigrants encouraged other Bengalis to settle in Assam for economic and social reasons. The fertile land of Assam and its vast expanse was inhabited by indigenous populace at that time ( that is, vast lands and forests were present but fewer people) which then attracted a large number of landless immigrant peasants from Bengal presidency, nearly 85% of whom were Muslims. The tea planters and immigrant Marwari businessmen, who needed workers, also welcomed the migrants.
How much of the population of Assam is Muslim?
In 1891, Muslim Population in Assam was only about 5% and by the 2001 census it has risen to above 30% and now as per the latest census of 2011, It has increased to above 34% of the total Assam population. As far as for upcoming 2021 census, it has been estimated that present Muslim population in Assam is over 40%, which have gone up from 35% in comparison to the previous decade of 2011 census respectively.
What was the Assam agitation?
The Assam Movement or the Assam Agitation (1979-1985) led by All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the ‘All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad’ (AAGSP) was a popular uprising to drive out the illegal immigrants from Bengal/Bihar etc. The movement ended with the signing of the Assam Accord by leaders of AASU-AAGSP and the Government of India under PM Rajiv Gandhi. During this period of six long years of the historic movement, reportedly, 855 people (later on 860 according to AASU reports) sacrificed their lives in the hope of an “infiltration free Assam” in the 1979-1985 Assam agitation. In addition, the infamous Nellie and Khoirabari massacre also took place during this time claiming the lives of 2,191 and 100-500 respectively.
How many people died in the Assam agitation?
During this period of six long years of the historic movement, reportedly, 855 people (later on 860 according to AASU reports) sacrificed their lives in the hope of an “infiltration free Assam” in the 1979-1985 Assam agitation.
What were the four Sarkars in the newly acquired land?
The Mughals established four sarkars in the newly acquired land---among which were Dhekeri (between Sankosh and Manas) and Kamrup (between Manas and Barnadi ).
Why were Muslims evicted in 2021?
On 21th September 2021, Assam government have evicted around 5,000 illegal Bengali speaking Muslims in Darrang district and the reason of their eviction is that they have illegal encroached the government lands without any legal documents. It has been also reported that two mosques and a Madrassa were also demolished during the drive. As per as media report, two Muslims (including a kid) were shot to death by the police firing.
Who were the leaders of Assam?
The Congress leaders of Assam prominently Gopinath Bardolai, Vishnuram Medhi and Bimla Prasad Chaliha understood the political conspiracy of the AIML and made serious resistance against the Immigration of Muslims in their province but in the absence of support from the central leadership of the party, they became helpless.
Why did Chaudhary stay in Assam?
It is often alleged that Chaudhary stayed back in Assam on the advice of Jinnah and other Pakistani leaders to help the immigrants from East Pakistan to settle in Assam. On the eve of partition, he was still considering whether to opt for Pakistan or stay back in India but was assured by Jinnah, ‘wait for ten years, I shall present Assam on a silver plate to you’. [4]
Why was the BTAD created?
The creation of BTAD under the provision of the sixth schedule of the Indian constitution by carving out of eight existing districts was however strongly resisted by the Muslim settlers in the area who had migrated to this region from erstwhile eastern Bengal as it prohibited the non-tribal to buy land there.
What is the cause of the ethnic bitterness in Assam?
The ongoing Bodo-Muslim clash is an offshoot of this bitterness.
Why did the British bring the Muslim peasantry to Brahmputra and Surma valleys in?
Initially, the British brought the Muslim peasantry from the over populated eastern Bengal to Brahmputra and Surma valleys in Assam for tea plantation as well as for the purpose of growing more food grains but the sequence of subsequent developments suggest that the descendents of the former Muslim rulers of Indian sub-continent with an objective to regain their political supremacy adopted a strategy to turn Assam also into a Muslim majority region like East Bengal.
How many MLAs are there in India?
The Muslim leaders hold commanding influence in about 40 of the total 126 Assembly constituencies and have 28 MLAs including 18 belonging to All India United Democratic Front founded by Maulana Ajmal.
How many illegal immigrants have entered India in the last five decades?
Similarly, the report ‘worked out by Group of Ministers, headed by Union Home Minister in 2001 noted that more than 15 million illegal immigrants have entered India over the last five decades from Bangladesh, an intrusion that has completely changed the demography of large parts of Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Tripura and Bihar’. [17]
What happened in Assam in the late thirties?
By the late thirties, the influx of Muslim peasantry settling in Assam started creating a new socio-economic and political environment for this otherwise closed society and also affected adversely its socio-cultural scenario.
Who were the leaders of Assam?
The Congress leaders of Assam prominently Gopinath Bardolai, Vishnuram Medhi and Bimla Prasad Chaliha understood the political conspiracy of the AIML and made serious resistance against the Immigration of Muslims in their province but in the absence of support from the central leadership of the party, they became helpless.
When did the Assam government form?
Note that the Assam government formed in 1921, with the support of the Assam Mohammeden Association, supported migration from East Bengal in the name of ‘grow more campaign’. Lord Wavell described the settlements as: “Grow more Muslims, rather than grow more food.” Edavelth Nalaamveetil Rammohan, Frontier in Flames, page 19.
What was the percentage of Muslims in Assam in 2011?
We can be see that the percentage of Muslims in Assam has steadily grown from 24.6 to 34.2 percent in 2011. Let us now review the community-wise growth rates in Table 2.
Why was the NRC prepared in 1951?
Kaushik also wrote that the main reason why NRC was prepared in 1951 was that, “ The illegal immigration from Bangladesh - previously known as East Bengal or East Pakistan - has afflicted Assam from colonial times. In 1881, Muslims accounted for a mere 9% - but increased to 19% in 1931 and 23% in 1941. The 1951 census estimated the number of migrants from East Bengal at around 1 million to 1.5 million, between one-tenth to one-sixth of the state’s population.” (4) Let us now look at district wise population trends of Muslim majority districts.
Why is the Bodo Muslim problem?
The Bodo-Muslim problem is mainly due to clash over the land occupied by the Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants.
What did the British do to help Assam?
The British developed the tea industry in Assam. They imported Bihari labour. To meet the growing demand for food they encouraged Muslim peasants from East Bengal to work on virgin land in Lower Assam.
When was Assam annexed?
Assam was annexed by the British and made part of Bengal presidency in 1826. When the British partitioned Bengal in 1905 Assam became part of Muslim dominated East Bengal. In 1911 partition of Bengal was annulled and Assam again became a separate province.
Who wrote to the President of India in his 1998 Report on Illegal Infiltration into Assam?
Former Governor of Assam Lt Gen S K Sinha wrote to the President of India in his 1998 Report on Illegal Infiltration into Assam and said, “Mr. Abdul Momin, former Foreign Secretary and Bangladesh's first Ambassador to China wrote in 1991, "The runaway population growth in Bangladesh resulting in suffocating density of population in a territorially small country, presents a nightmarish picture. If we in Bangladesh ingratiate ourselves with the hill tribes within our borders, our bulging population might find a welcome in adjacent land inhabited by kindred peoples”. (3)
Where did Assam get its history?
History of ancient Assam comes from a corpus of Kamarupa inscriptions on rock, copper plates, clay; royal grants, etc. that the Kamarupa kings issued during their reign. Protohistory has been reconstructed from folklore: epics like Mahabharata, and two medieval texts compiled in the Assam region—the Kalika Purana and the Yogini Tantra.
When was Assam founded?
Ancient Assam (350–1206) The historical account of Assam begins with the establishment of Pushyavarman's Varman dynasty in the 4th century in the Kamarupa kingdom, which marks the beginning of Ancient Assam. The kingdom reached its traditional extent, from the Karatoya in the west to Sadiya in the east.
How many eras are there in Assam?
The history of Assam can be divided into four eras. The ancient era began in the 4th century with the mention of Kamarupa in Samudragupta's inscriptions on the Allahabad pillar and the establishment of the Kamarupa kingdom.
How many members were in the Assam Legislative Council?
The Council had 25 members, of which the Chief Commissioner and 13 nominated members formed the bulk.
Why was Assam annexed?
The annexation of upper Assam is attributed to the successful manufacture of tea in 1837, and the beginning of the Assam Company in 1839. Under the Wasteland Rules of 1838, it became nearly impossible for natives to start plantations. After the liberalization of the rules in 1854, there was a land rush.
What is the theme of medieval kingship narratives in Assam?
A common theme of Medieval kingship narratives in Assam is associated with shaktism and the Kamakhya temple.
Where did the late Neolithic cultures come from?
The Late neolithic cultures have affinities with the spread of the Mon Khmer speaking people from Malaysia and the Ayeyarwady valley and late neolithic developments in South China. Since these cultures have been dated to 4500–4000 BCE, the Assam sites are dated to approximately that period.
When did the Assam protests start?
A six-year anti-foreigner protest in the 1980s - during which hundreds of people were murdered - led to a 1985 pact between the federal government and protesters. It was agreed that anyone who entered Assam without proper documentation after 24 March 1971 would be declared a foreigner and deported.
Why is Assam so tense?
One reason for the tensions is that Assam is one of India's most complex and multi-ethnic states. Assamese and Bengali-speaking Hindus live here, as do a medley of tribespeople. A third of its 32 million residents are Muslims, the second-highest number in any part of India after Indian-administered Kashmir.
How long is the Assam border?
Assam shares a nearly 900km (560-mile) long border with Bangladesh, and both Hindus and Muslims have trickled in, some fleeing religious persecution and others looking for jobs. Estimates of illegal foreigners in the state range from four million to 10 million.
Why did the BJP change its tack before the final citizens' register was published?
But the BJP changed tack before the final citizens' register was published, saying it was error ridden. The reason for that was a lot of Bengali Hindus - a strong voter base for the party - were left off the list, and risked becoming illegal immigrants.
Overview
Islam is the second largest religion in Assam. The Muslim population was approximately 14.61 million, constituting over 40.03% of the total population of the state as of 2021 year estimation, making Assam the second-largest Muslim-populated state in the country after Kashmir Reaching the region in the 13th century, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Assam. Muslims are a majority in almost eleven districts of Assam and highly concentrated in four districts.
History
One of the first conversions in Assam to Islam was Ali Mech, a Mech chieftain. A Delhi Sultanate general Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji appeared on the borders of Assam in 1206 and converted Ali Mech who guided him on his expedition to capture Tibet. Khalji had arrived with a force of 10–12,000 horsemen at the Kamrup region, but he was defeated at the Chumbi Valley and was forced to ret…
Demographics
Assamese is the official language of the state and the most widely spoken, and so it serves as a lingua franca for inter-ethnic communications. Bengali, which is an official language in Assam's Barak Valley, is also a popular common language among certain communities.
The Assamese Muslims are often divided into four subgroups; Deshi, Maria, G…
Human Rights issues
Bengali Muslims in Assam have faced repeated and increased attacks. In 1983, around 3000 Bengali Muslims were killed in the Nellie massacre, (unofficial figures run at more than 10,000).
During the 2012 Assam violence there was communal riot between Bengal origin Muslim and indigenous Bodo people. Almost 80 people were killed, most of whom were Bengali Muslims and some Bodos. Nearly, 400,000 people were displaced to migrant camps, most being Muslims. Ind…
Population
Source: (Census of India) 1901-2021
• Variation for two decades (1971–1991). In 1981, census was not conducted in Assam due to disturbed conditions resulting from insurgency. Muslims in Assam have recorded the most dramatic decline in fertility since NFHS-3, which was conducted 14 years earlier. The number of children who would be born per woman — or the total fertility rate (TFR) — of the Muslim commu…
Trends
Islam was first introduced in Assam by Azan Faqir who have came from Baghdad in 17th century (1601-1700) during the reign of Ahom king Pratap Singha. He preach Islam to local indigenous assamese tribes in various parts of Assam. He played a vital role in unifying the people of the Brahmaputra Valley. He is considered as a legendary Sufi saint who composed many spiritual songs related to Allah in Assamese language. Thousands of devotees from all over the country vi…
Projections
In 1891, Muslim Population in Assam was only about 5% and by the 2001 census it has risen to above 30% and now as per the latest census of 2011, It has increased to above 34% of the total Assam population. As far as for upcoming 2021 census, it has been estimated that present Muslim population in Assam is over 40%, which have gone up from 35% in comparison to the previous decade of 2011 census respectively.
Indigenous Assamese Muslims
Recently on 5th June 2022 Assam Government did cabinet decision , indigenous Assamese Muslims only five different sections namely Goria,Moria,Desi,Jalah and Syed , , ,