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Islam is the second largest religion in Assam. Islam is also fastest growing religion in Assam according to 2011 census report. According to the 2011 census, there were 10,679,345 Muslims in the Indian state of Assam, forming over 34.22% of its population. Islam came to Assam in the 13th century, before the Ahom dynasty of the region. However, migration of Bengali-speaking immigrants, mostly from Bangladesh have also arrived in Assam and contribute significantly to the state's Muslim population. Many of these immigrants have been either naturalized or acquired forged Indian documents since.
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History
The Muslims first came to Assam in the early 13th century, when Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji led an army to eastern India in 1205. A chieftain of the Mech tribe embraced Islam at the invitation of Khilji, and adopted the name Ali Mech. He guided Khilji's army through the region known as Kamarupa during the expedition. Barak Valley:On the other hand Islam became popularised in Barak Valley with the arrival of Sufi Hazrat Shahjalal and his disciples in the early 14th century. A large part of the valley came under Bengal Sultanate. Since then Muslim continue to play important in all walk of life. In 1613, the Mughals annexed Koch Hajo (now part of Western Assam) briefly. They also ruled Goalpara (as a part of their Bengal Subah), but could not subdue the other parts of Assam. The Mughal soldiers who were taken as prisoners of wars by the Assamese kingdoms were later assimilated by the local population, but maintained their Islamic beliefs.
In 1630, a Muslim saint named Shah Milan popularly known as Ajan Fakir came from Baghdad, the present capital city of Iraq to Assam. He preached the local population about Islam and as a result many of them had entered into the fold of Islam and became his disciples. His mausoleum is present in Sahoguri Chapori in Sibsagar district of Assam.
Historical divisions
Although the Muslims of Assam did not identify with any caste, they had caste-like divisions based on family ancestry (e.g. Syed, Mughal, Pathan and Sheikh) and functional sections (e.g. Maria, Mahinial and Jalaha). In order of traditional social status, the ancestral groups include:
Migration during the British era
The British East India Company had established its rule in the neighbouring Bengal region after the Battle of Plassey in 1757. When Assam came under the colonial rule, the British brought with them a number of Bengali settlers. These Bengalis encouraged other Bengalis to settle in Assam for economic reasons. The fertile land of Assam attracted a number of landless peasants from East Bengal, nearly 85% of whom were Muslims. The tea planters and Marwari businessmen, who needed workers, also welcomed the immigrants.
Early establishments were in the Goalpara district, mostly in the char (riverine) lands and reserved forests. Some of these Muslim migrants were known as "Miyas", and most of them have assimilated with the indigenous Muslims. Since many of them came from the Mymensingh District, they were sometimes referred to as "Mymenshingia". The Muslim migrants from the Gaur region were also known as Gariyas.
After the Government of India Act 1935, a Legislative Assembly was established in Assam in 1937. The Muslim League, led by Muhammed Saadulah, formed a minority government in the state.
Independent India
Assam has a substantial number of indigenous Muslims, but there have been concerns that illegal immigration from the neighboring Bangladesh has contributed to a sharp rise in the Muslim population of Assam. This fear of "demographic invasion" by Bangladeshi Muslims has been a political issue in Assam since the days of Assam Movement (1979–1985), In 2001, there were 6 Muslim-majority in the Assam district. By 2011, this number had increased to 9. However, these numbers have declined in recent years.
Human Rights issues
Bengali Muslims in Assam have faced repeated and increased Islamophobic attacks. In 1983, around 2000 Bengali-speaking Muslims were killed in the Nellie massacre.
During the 2012 Assam violence there was widespread attacks on Bengali Muslim populations. Indian Hindu nationalist politicians have accused Bangladesh of trying to expand its territory by ostensibly promoting illegal immigration. However, Indian government census reports note a decline in immigration from Bangladesh between 1971 and 2011.
The response to the alleged illegal migration by Bangladeshis in India has seen double standards. In 2014 Narendra Modi, the then Prime minister hopeful threatened to expel all "illegal Bangladeshis" but made a distinction between Bengali Hindus and Muslims. Modi remarked that "those who are forced to flee Bangladesh and are sons of mother India, love the nation, worship (the Hindu goddess) Ma Durga.....they will be protected and given the same status as other sons of mother India. But illegal Bangladeshi migrants, who are being brought to India in the name of vote-bank politics, will have to go back to Bangladesh."
Population
* Variation for two decades (1971–1991). In 1981, census was not conducted in Assam due to disturbed conditions resulting from insurgency.
Population by district
Below is a breakdown of the Muslim population by district in the Indian state of Assam according to the 2011 Census of India:
Society
The Assam Muslims are probably one of the least orthodox Muslim communities of entire Asia. They follow many Hindu customs and take part in Hindu festivals. In fact, the day-to-day rituals of this community resemble the customs of the other local tribes and communities of Assam. A majority of the Assam Muslims are agrarian in nature and depend on agriculture for their subsistence.