This is an accepted version of this page
119-463: Islam is the second largest and fastest-growing religion in Assam . The Muslim population was approximately (2011 census) 10.68 million (more than 1 crore), constituting over 34.22% of the total population of the state as of the 2011 census, giving Assam , the second-largest Muslim percentage in the country after Jammu and Kashmir (state) . After Jammu and Kashmir became Union Territory , Assam became
238-632: A flotilla to conquer Kamata . The conquest was instigated by Sachipatra, a Brahmin whose son was executed by Nilambar for his promiscuity with the queen. Successfully imprisoning King Nilambar of the Khen dynasty , the Bengal Sultanate began issuing coins bearing the Sultan as the " Conqueror of Kamru and Kamta " and publicly inscribed the victory at a stone in Malda . The Sultan appointed his son, Prince Daniyal, as
357-608: A mazar (mausoleum) was built there. A Baro-Bhuyan confederation led by Gandharva Rai's descendant Harup Narayan was successful in removing the Sultanate influence, but the Baro-Bhuyans themselves were removed by Vishwa Singha who established the Koch dynasty in 1515. The Sultanate rule lasted for about 15 years. Turko-Afghan soldiers who were taken as prisoners of wars by the Ahom kingdom in
476-521: A Madrassa were also demolished during the drive, however, no evidence had been shown for the allegations. As per as media report, two Muslims (including a kid) were shot to death by the police firing. On first week of January 2023, Eviction Drive were again carried out by Assam government in Lakhimpur district , where around 300 Bengali-Muslim Families homes and occupation were destroyed permanently, thus making them homeless and jobless. In August 2024, after
595-700: A Tai state, situated in South-Western Yunnan of China, and established his kingdom in Upper Assam . In 1253, he founded the capital city in a hillock and named it Charaideo . At the time of his advent, the area was inhabited by Morans and Borahis, to the north, to the north-east was the Chutia kingdom and to the south was the Kachari kingdom and to the west on the plains were the Baro-Bhuyans . For more than two and
714-806: A cult of saints developed within some Muslim communities at an early date, following deeply ingrained pre-Islamic practices in the Middle East. Mashhads , or sanctuaries, were established by certain people for figures mentioned from the Quran , such as Muhammad , Jesus , the prophets , and other main figures of the Jewish and Christian Bible, great rulers, military leaders and clerics. The followers of Wahhabism consider that no person can mediate between man and God. They consider that Muslims who believe that saints and their shrines have holy properties are polytheists and heretics . In 1802, Wahhabi forces partially destroyed
833-578: A descendant of Ali , never visited Egypt, but the mashhad was built to commemorate her. It is similar to al-Juyushi, but with a larger, fluted dome and with an elegantly decorated mihrab . Some shrines draw both Sunni and Shia pilgrims. One example is the shrine of Abdol-Ghazi Sahab in Karachi , said to be a relative of Ja'far al-Sadiq , the sixth imam. He had fled from the Abbasids in Baghdad to Sindh , where he
952-564: A half centuries, Sukapha and his descendants, while primarily focused on administering the kingdom, upheld their dominance in the valley through their military prowess. The reign of Suhungmung marked the first massive expansion of Ahom kingdom . Besides sending a punitive expeditions against the Nagas, they fought numerous battles with the Bhuyans, Chutias, Kacharis, Turko-Afghans, and the Naras. In 1522–23
1071-517: A huge army and fleet to invade Ahom kingdom. Here the Ahoms, lost at several places, and then captured the Ahom capital Garhgaon . During the rainy season Mir Jumla and his army suffered immeasurable hardship due to the climatic condition of the valley in addition the guerrilla fighting resorted against the invaders. And at last no noticeable gain, negotiation started and in January 1663, Treaty of Ghilajharighat
1190-612: A minority government in the state and he again encouraged large scale immigration from then Bengal. After the Sylhet referendum in 1947, the Muslim-majority Sylhet region went to East Pakistan while some Muslim-majority areas such as the Karimganj district went to Assam, India. Assam has some indigenous Muslims like the Gauria, Maria and Deshi, though they are very few as compared to
1309-450: A number of army and civil administration posts such as the Borbarua and Borphukan . Jayadhwaj Singha taking the advantage of War of succession between the sons of Shah Jahan , occupied the imperial territories up to Dhaka . Aurangzeb after becoming the emperor, appointed Mir Jumla II , to recover the lost territory. After fail negotiations. In November 1661, Mir Jumla proceeded with
SECTION 10
#17328548468791428-543: A rape case in Dihing by where convicts were from Miya Bangladeshi Community , various organizations, including the All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU), Asomiya Yuva Manch, Bir Lachit Sena, Garia Maria Desi Jatiya Parishad (representing Indigenous Assamese Muslims ), and others, issued an ultimatum for the bangladeshi Miya people to leave Upper Assam . Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma sparked controversy by stating in
1547-533: A result of abundant rainfall, look green all year round. Assam receives more rainfall than most parts of India; this rain feeds the Brahmaputra River , whose tributaries and oxbow lakes provide the region with a distinctive hydro- geomorphic environment. The first dated mention of the region comes from Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century) and Ptolemy 's Geographia (2nd century), which calls
1666-611: A result, many converted and became his disciples. His mausoleum is present in Saraguri Chapori. There were a number of Muslim rulers of Kamrup during this period and they were referred to as the Faujdars of Shujabad . The sixth faujdar, Lutfullah Shirazi , built a hilltop mosque in Koch Hajo in 1657. The mosque contained the mazar (mausoleum) of Prince Ghiyath ad-Din Awliya of Iraq , who
1785-432: A rock cut stupa at Sri Surya Pahar has been dated to 200 BCE contemporary with rock cut Karle and Bhaja caves of Maharashtra. The site is located in a hilly terrain where several rock-cut shivalingas , votive stupas and the deities of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain pantheon are scattered. Samudragupta 's 4th-century-CE Allahabad pillar inscription mentions Kamarupa and Davaka (Central Assam) as frontier kingdoms of
1904-454: A water tank which may date from 1st century BCE and may be 2,000 years old. Experts speculate that another significant find at Ambari is Roman era Roman roulette pottery from the 2nd century BCE. According to a late text, Kalika Purana (c. 9th–10th century CE ), the earliest ruler of Assam was Mahiranga Danav of the Danava dynasty , which was removed by Naraka of Mithila and established
2023-482: Is a state in northeastern India , south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of 78,438 km (30,285 sq mi). It is the second largest state in northeastern India by area and the largest in terms of population, with more than 31 million inhabitants. The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to
2142-563: Is an exception. This building has a prayer hall covered with cross-vaults , with a dome resting on squinches over the area in front of the mihrab . It has a courtyard with a tall square minaret. It is not clear whom the mashhad commemorates. Two other important mashhads from the Fatimid era in Cairo are those of Sayyida Ruqayya and of Yayha al-Shabib , in the Fustat cemetery. Sayyida Ruqayya ,
2261-567: Is around 10.49 million, comprising about 30% of the state population, out of 40% of the Assam's total Muslim population as of 2021 year estimation report. The third group are the descendants of Muslim migrants from Hindi belt , who speak Hindustani . Their population is about 1.25 lakhs in Assam, comprising 0.4% of state population as of 2011. They are mainly found in Brahmaputra valley . ( [REDACTED] ) Source: (Census of India) 1901-2021 • Variation for two decades (1971–1991). In 1981, census
2380-519: Is bound to happen.The indigenous Muslims in Barak Valley (comprising districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj) bear surnames like Choudury, Mazumdar, Laskar, Barlaskar, Barbhuiya, Mazarbhuiya, Talukdar and Hazari and other regular titles mostly bought from Kachari kings Krishan Chandra and Govinda Chandra. Besides them, Manipuri Muslims are also believed to have settled in Barak Valley. So they can be said to have technically existed in Assam even before
2499-592: Is commonly credited for introducing Islam to the region. The Mughals lost Kamrup forever in 1682 after the Battle of Itakhuli . Incomplete list of Faujdars of Guahati: When Assam came under colonial rule , the British brought with them a number of immigrant Bengali settlers (mostly Bengali Muslims from Eastern Bengal region, now Bangladesh ). These immigrants encouraged other Bengalis to settle in Assam for economic and social reasons. The fertile land of Assam and its vast expanse
SECTION 20
#17328548468792618-425: Is composed of different groups - Muslim-Axamia: The Muslim-Axamia community represents a significant indigenous Muslim population in Assam. Known by various names such as Goriya, Tholua, or Khilonjia, they have been an integral part of Assam 's cultural landscape for centuries. Their distinct identity adds to the intricate tapestry of Assamese culture. The lineage of Deshi's (Desi Community) , believed to be among
2737-878: Is for those who are living since ages even before colonization took place in 1826 as per UN definition of the indigenous people). 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 , Gauria and Syeds. Some of these people are descendants of defeated Mughal soldiers , captured in Ahom–Mughal conflicts , who eventually married native Assamese women and adopted Assamese language and culture. Their population totals to roughly 4 million, comprising 12.8% of state population. The Syeds claim to be descendants of
2856-499: Is open only to women. Shahrbanu was the daughter of Yazdegerd III , the last Sassanid ruler of Persia. She married Imam Hussein ibn Ali and was mother of the fourth Shia imam, Ali ibn al-Husayn , so has come to symbolize the early and close connection between Shiism and Iran. The shrine is popular with women seeking solace or assistance. The Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque , the shrine of Zaynab bint Ali in Damascus , has been restored with
2975-651: The Ahom kingdom where the country was greatly depopulated and unorganised. The political rivalry between the nobles made a pathway for the Burmese to invade and weakened it more and finally leading to its annexation. The discovery of Camellia sinensis in 1834 in Assam was followed by testing in 1836–37 in London. The British allowed companies to rent land from 1839 onwards. Thereafter tea plantations proliferated in Eastern Assam, where
3094-591: The Al-Askari Mosque , one of the most important of Shia shrines. The mosque was badly damaged in a February 2006 bombing , presumably the work of Sunni militants. As of 2007, the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad , Iran attracted 12 million visitors annually, second only to Mecca as a destination for Muslim pilgrims. This shrine is known for its healing powers. The shrine of Princess Shahrbanu , just south of Tehran ,
3213-529: The Assam Government , five groups of indigenous Assamese Muslims were recognized, namely Goria, Moria, Deshi, Jalah (Juluha) and Syed. On 3 October 2023, the Assam Government announced its intention to conduct a survey aimed at assessing the socio-economic status of indigenous Muslims in Assam. Some observers considered this an attempt to differentiate between the Bengali-speaking 'Miya' Muslims and
3332-516: The Barak valley region, alongside Bengali , which is also an official language in the Barak Valley. The state has 35 districts with 5 divisions . Guwahati (containing the state capital Dispur ) is the largest city in northeastern India . Assam is known for Assam tea and Assam silk . The state was the first site for oil drilling in Asia . Assam is home to the one-horned Indian rhinoceros , along with
3451-601: The Bengal Presidency , then in 1906 it was made a part of Eastern Bengal and Assam province, and in 1912 it was reconstituted into a chief commissioners' province. In 1913, a legislative council and, in 1937, the Assam Legislative Assembly, were formed in Shillong, the erstwhile capital of the region. The British tea planters imported labour from central India adding to the demographic canvas. The Assam territory
3570-633: The Bhauma dynasty . The last of these rulers, also Naraka, was slain by Krishna . Naraka's son Bhagadatta became the king, who (it is mentioned in the Mahabharata) fought for the Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra with an army of kiratas , chinas and dwellers of the eastern coast. At the same time towards the east in central Assam, Asura kingdom was ruled by another line of kings. Evidence indicates presence of civilisation in Assam around 2nd century BCE,
3689-579: The British Raj , hold significant numerical influence, determining the outcomes of approximately 30 assembly seats out of Assam's 126 constituencies . They 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 Bengali -origin Muslims and
Islam in Assam - Misplaced Pages Continue
3808-519: The Chutia kingdom was annexed and the captured tract was placed under the administration of Sadiya-Khowa-Gohain. After securing the eastern tract, Suhungmung than expanded his kingdom westwards through conquest and extended it till Marangi to the west of the Dhansiri river. When the Kacharis tried to regain the lost territory they were defeated and their capital Dimapur was sacked. Over the remaining part of
3927-516: The Gupta Empire . Davaka was later absorbed by Kamarupa, which grew into a large kingdom that spanned from Karatoya river to near present Sadiya and covered the entire Brahmaputra valley, North Bengal , parts of Bangladesh and, at times Purnea and parts of West Bengal . The kingdom was ruled by three dynasties who traced their lineage from a mleccha or Kirata Naraka; the Varmanas (c. 350–650 CE),
4046-591: The Indian National Congress against the British from the early 20th century, with Gopinath Bordoloi emerging as the preeminent nationalist leader in the Assam Congress. Bordoloi's major political rival in this time was Sir Saidullah, who was representing the Muslim League , and had the backing of the influential Muslim cleric Maulana Bhasani . The Assam Postage Circle was established by 1873 under
4165-711: The Islamic prophet Muhammad . The Deshi are descendants of indigenous converts to Islam from the Koch , Mech , Rabha , Boro . They consider Ali Mech , the 13th-century chief, as their founding father. This group mainly converses in Goalpariya and Rajbanshi , as opposed to Boro and Rabha . They are mainly found in the western districts of Goalpara , Kokrajhar , Dhubri and South Salmara-Mankachar (i.e. Lower Assam ). The Maria are descended from captured Muslim soldiers who were part of Bakhtiyar Khalji 's army in 1206. They are named as such because they were engaged in
4284-595: The Kamrup region , but he was defeated at the Chumbi Valley and was forced to retreat back to Bengal with his army annihilated, where he died in the same year. This expedition resulted in Assam's first Muslim population. 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
4403-521: The Maghreb as ḍarīḥ ( ضَرِيْح ), is a mausoleum or shrine in some places of the world, typically that of a saint or notable religious leader. Medieval Arabic texts may also use the words mašhad ( مَشْهَد ) or maqām to denote the same concept. Practices vary considerably in different countries. Syncretism is not unusual, where pre-Islamic practices and beliefs persist among Muslim communities. Despite Muhammad's wishes and Allah's command ,
4522-675: The Mlechchha dynasty (c.655–900 CE) and the Kamarupa-Palas (c. 900–1100 CE), from their capitals in present-day Guwahati ( Pragjyotishpura ), Tezpur ( Haruppeswara ) and North Gauhati ( Durjaya ) respectively. All three dynasties claimed descent from Narakasura . In the reign of the Varman king, Bhaskaravarman (c. 600–650 CE), the Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited the region and recorded his travels. Later, after weakening and disintegration (after
4641-558: The Mughals attacked Koch Hajo and his territory up to Barnadi River were annexed in the Mughal domain. This brought the Mughals with direct contact with Ahoms. Meanwhile, Parikshit was trying to renew his friendship with Ahoms, but got captured, and died on his way to his kingdom. Later Balinarayan , a brother of Parikshit who had taken refugee under the Ahoms was made the king of Darrang in 1615 by
4760-706: The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). In November 1990, the Government of India deployed the Indian army , after which low-intensity military conflicts and political homicides have been continuing for more than a decade. In recent times, ethnically based militant groups have grown. The Panchayati Raj Act has been applied in Assam, after agitation of the communities due to the sluggish rate of development and general apathy of successive state governments towards Indigenous Assamese communities. Deadly floods hit
4879-521: The gharial , a critically endangered fish-eating crocodilian, and the pink-headed duck (which may be extinct worldwide). For the state bird, the white-winged wood duck, Assam is a globally important area. In addition to the above, there are three other National Parks in Assam namely Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Nameri National Park and the Orang National Park. Assam has conserved the one-horned Indian rhinoceros from near extinction, along with
Islam in Assam - Misplaced Pages Continue
4998-497: The pygmy hog , tiger and numerous species of birds, and it provides one of the last wild habitats for the Asian elephant . Kaziranga and Manas are both World Heritage Sites . The state contains Sal tree forests and forest products, much depleted from earlier times. A land of high rainfall, Assam displays greenery. The Brahmaputra River tributaries and oxbow lakes provide the region with hydro- geomorphic environment. The state has
5117-604: The shrine of Imam Husayn . In 1925, the commander and later-king of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud , destroyed the manmade structures in Jannat al-Baqīʿ in Medina , the burial place of four of the Shia imams and of Muhammad's daughter. The cemetery still exists, albeit in a much simpler form, and is used to bury the dead. There is no specific architectural type for mazārs , which vary greatly in size and elaboration. However, they all follow
5236-580: The state with largest Muslim percentage in the country . Islam reached the region in the 13th century and Muslims are a majority in almost eleven districts of Assam and highly concentrated in four districts. In 2021, estimations have predicted that the Muslim population in the state has reached 40%, numbering 14 million (10 million present-day Bangladesh origin Bengali Muslims and 4 million Assamese Muslims ), out of total population of 35 million. One of
5355-413: The wild water buffalo , pygmy hog , tiger and various species of Asiatic birds, and provides one of the last wild habitats for the Asian elephant . The Assamese economy is aided by wildlife tourism to Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park , which are World Heritage Sites . Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is famed for its feral horses . Sal tree forests are found in the state which, as
5474-452: The 16th were later assimilated by the local population, but maintained a semblance of their Islamic beliefs and worked as brass metal workers. In 1613, the Mughal emperor Jahangir appointed Muhammad Zaman Karori of Tehran as the Amil of Sylhet . Zaman took part in Islam Khan I 's Assam expedition and was instrumental to the capture of Koch Hajo . The Mughals also ruled Goalpara (as a part of their Bengal Subah ), but could not subdue
5593-435: The 1850s, the industry started seeing some profits. The industry saw initial growth, when in 1861, investors were allowed to own land in Assam and it saw substantial progress with the invention of new technologies and machinery for preparing processed tea during the 1870s. Despite the commercial success, tea labourers continued to be exploited, working and living under poor conditions. Fearful of greater government interference,
5712-408: The Ahom king Pratap Singha . From 1616, onwards many battles were fought the Mughal without any tangible result, with the first Battle of Samdhara till after the last battle where the treaty was concluded in 1639 which fixed the Asurar ali on the south bank and the Barnadi on the north bank of the Brahmaputra as the boundary between the two. Pratap Singha had also enacted the Paik system and created
5831-423: The Ahom kingdom, the Chutia regions were annexed, and by around 1536, the Kacharis were confined to the areas of Cachar and North Cachar. At this point, they became more of an ally to the Ahoms than a rival force. The Ahoms , a Tai group, ruled Upper Assam for almost 600 years. In the year 1228 the Tai-Ahoms came to the Brahmaputra Valley under the leadership of Sukapha along with 9,000 men from Mong Mao ,
5950-494: The Ahoms achieved no notable military achievement. During this period from, Siva Singha to Rajeswar Singha , the kingdom witnessed peace and prosperity and was significant for constructive activities and other development. In the field of religion also, Ekasarana Dharma spread all over the kingdom and started to influence all aspects of people's life. The religious heads of Vaisnavite monastery exalted great influence with royal patronage and established numerous Satras and most of
6069-419: The Ahoms. The Bengali-speaking Miya people are descended from Muslim immigrants from the modern-day Bangladeshi divisions of Mymensingh , Rangpur and Rajshahi . They are concentrated in the central and lower Assam districts such as Dhubri , Morigaon , Goalpara , Kamrup , Darrang , Nagaon , Bongaigaon , Barpeta , South Salmara district , Nalbari , Chirang and Bodoland region. Their population
SECTION 50
#17328548468796188-446: The Assam Geologic Province. The region is prone to natural disasters like annual floods and frequent mild earthquakes. Strong earthquakes were recorded in 1869, 1897 , and 1950 . The total population of Assam was 26.66 million with 4.91 million households in 2001. Higher population concentration was recorded in the districts of Kamrup , Nagaon , Sonitpur , Barpeta , Dhubri , Darrang , and Cachar . Assam's population
6307-431: The Assembly that he wouldn't be able to maintain law and order if people from Lower Assam moved to Upper Assam against the wishes of the indigenous population, highlighting ethnic tensions rather than religious ones. On 3 September 2024, approximately 28 Miya Muslims were placed in a detention camp in Assam. Census of India between (2001-2011) have shown that Bengali Muslim population grows 15-17% in Assam specially in
6426-537: The Barak valley) is the second most populous city in Assam and an important centre of business. Other large cities include Dibrugarh , an oil and natural gas industry centre, With the tropical monsoon climate , Assam is temperate (summer max. at 95–100 °F or 35–38 °C and winter min. at 43–46 °F or 6–8 °C) and experiences heavy rainfall and high humidity. The climate is characterised by heavy monsoon downpours reducing summer temperatures and affecting foggy nights and mornings in winters, frequent during
6545-610: The Bengali speaking groups. The district administration officials said they had illegally occupied government land and did not vacate it despite several warnings in the past. Many Bengali speaking Muslims in Assam are victim of NRC which, they claim, directly declared them under D voter category. Citing the statistics, the letter alleged that the numbers suggest there was pressure from State authorities to declare more persons as foreigners as far as possible. Between 1985 and 2016, out of 468,934 referrals, 80,194 Bengali speaking Muslims were declared as foreigners. In 2017, 13,434 persons from
6664-404: The British gradually annexed the entire region. Thereafter the court language and medium of instruction in educational institutions of Assam was made Bengali , instead of Assamese. Starting from 1836 until 1873, this imposition of a foreign tongue created greater unemployment among the People of Assam and Assamese literature naturally suffered in its growth. Initially, Assam was made a part of
6783-408: The Chief Commissioner. With the partition of India in 1947, Assam became a constituent state of India. The Sylhet District of Assam (excluding the Karimganj subdivision) was given up to East Pakistan, which later became Bangladesh. The government of India, which has the unilateral powers to change the borders of a state, divided Assam into several states beginning in 1970 within the borders of what
6902-453: The Goalpara district, mostly in the char (riverine) lands and reserved forests. Most of these Muslim immigrants were known as "Miyas". Many of them came from the Northeast part of Rangpur and many of them came from Mymensingh , they were sometimes referred to as Bongal meaning Outsider. After the Government of India Act 1935 , a Legislative Assembly was established in Assam in 1937. The Muslim League , led by Muhammed Saadulah , formed
7021-490: The Kachari and Jaintia kingdoms, and had captured their kings and forced to accept Ahom suzerainty and agreed them to pay annual tribute. Other than that, several expeditions were sent against the Miris, the Daflas, the Naga Mishmis and the Nagas of Namsung, Dayang and the Rengma Nagas during late 17th century and early 18th century. Rudra Singha had made extensive preparations for his invasion of Bengal but remained unfulfilled due to his sudden death in 1714. After Rudra Singha ,
7140-401: The Kachari kingdom, a new king Detsung was placed as a tributary, but Detsung proved disloyal and revolted against the Ahoms. He was subsequently executed. A new dependent king was set up on the Kachari throne with the name of Nirbhaynarayan. Since then the Kachari kings were regarded as 'thapita sanchita' meaning - established and maintained by the Ahom rulers. Suhungmung's reign also witnessed
7259-500: The Kamarupa-Palas), the Kamarupa tradition was extended to c. 1255 CE by the Lunar I (c. 1120–1185 CE) and Lunar II (c. 1155–1255 CE) dynasties. The Medieval Assam history may have started with the advent of Ahoms in the early part of the 13th century and covers their entire rule of 600 years till 1826. The medieval history of Assam is especially known for its conflict with Muslim powers under Turko-Afghan and Mughals , finally resulting in Assamese victory, however, this military glory
SECTION 60
#17328548468797378-509: The Rajanikhal forest village under the Haiwaithang range, which interestingly falls inside Barak valley's Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya's home constituency Dholai. On 10 June 2021, nearly 100 families of about 500 Bengali-speaking Muslims were rendered homeless through land eviction, leaving them with no option but to take shelter near a road. A similar drive was also carried out on 17 May at Jamugurihat in North Assam's Sonitpur district which have evicted 25 Muslim families, all belonging to
7497-429: The South Indian Plateau system. In the south, the Barak originating in the Barail Range (Assam-Nagaland border) flows through the Cachar district with a 25–30 miles (40–50 km) wide valley and enters Bangladesh with the name Surma River . Urban centres include Guwahati , one of the 100 fastest growing cities in the world. Guwahati is also referred to as the "Gateway to the North-East India". Silchar , (in
7616-462: The accession of Gadadhar Singha , fought the final Battle of Itakhuli where the Mughals were badly defeated. And the since then the border was fixed at Manah on the north bank and the Nagarbera hill on the south bank of the Brahmaputra till its annexation by the East India Company in 1826. Rudra Singha succeeded Gadadhar Singha , his reign is notable because of his military achievements and his socio-culture contributions. He had both subjugated
7735-596: The afternoons. Spring (March–April) and autumn (September–October) are usually pleasant with moderate rainfall and temperature. Assam's agriculture usually depends on the south-west monsoon rains. Every year, rivers like the Brahmaputra and Barak overflow due to heavy rainfall, causing widespread flooding across Assam. The rising water levels submerge nearby areas, washing away houses, livestock, and damaging infrastructure such as bridges, railway tracks, and roads, leading to communication breakdowns in many regions. This natural disaster also results in numerous fatalities throughout
7854-868: The bank of the Brahmaputra River , and the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary , near the border with Bhutan. The Kaziranga is a refuge for the fast-disappearing Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The state is the last refuge for numerous other endangered and threatened species including the white-winged wood duck or deohanh , Bengal florican , black-breasted parrotbill , red-headed vulture , white-rumped vulture , greater adjutant , Jerdon's babbler , rufous-necked hornbill , Bengal tiger , Asian elephant , pygmy hog , gaur , wild water buffalo , Indian hog deer , hoolock gibbon , golden langur , capped langur , barasingha , Ganges river dolphin , Barca snakehead , Ganges shark , Burmese python , brahminy river turtle , black pond turtle , Asian forest tortoise , and Assam roofed turtle . Threatened species that are extinct in Assam include
7973-637: The bell-metal and smithy industry, the word Maria meaning one who hits metals . On the other hand, the Gauria are descendants of Muslim soldiers who accompanied Turbak Khan during his conquest of Assam in 1532. This army hailed from Gaur in Bengal , so are referred to as Gauria . The Mariya and Gauria are minority groups and can be found in Sivasagar , Jorhat , Tinsukia , Golaghat , Kamrup and some other districts in Assam. They speak Assamese language as their own mother tongue. The Sylheti Muslim of Barak Valley. Barak Valley consists of 3 districts namely Cachar , Karimganj , Hailakandi . Karimjang
8092-472: The bordering districts over the past decade. In February 2020, the Assam Minority Development Board announced plans to segregate illegal Bengali Muslim immigrants from the indigenous Muslims of the state, though some have expressed problems in identifying an indigenous Muslim person. According to the board, there are 1.4 crore (14 million) Muslims in the state, of which 10 million are of Bengali origin, and rest are Indian origin indigenous Assamese. Allegedly that
8211-427: The colonial and post-colonial period, the Muslim population exploded in Assam primarily due to immigration. 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
8330-438: The conventional design of the turba , or tomb, and generally have a dome over a rectangular base. The Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala , Iraq draws Shia pilgrims from Iraq, Iran and elsewhere. The Sardāb of Caliph al-Mahdi ( r. 775–785) is preserved in Samarra , Iraq under a golden dome that was presented by Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and that was completed by Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar in 1905. The tomb lies within
8449-553: The courtyard with a steel frame canopy and adding a brightly decorated "shrine", which have given the monument a very different character from the original. In Egypt, many mashhads devoted to religious figures were built in Fatimid Cairo, mostly straightforward square structures with a dome. A few of the mausoleums at Aswan were more complex and included side rooms. Most of the Fatimid mausoleums have either been destroyed or have been greatly altered through later renovations. The Mashad al-Juyushi , also called Mashad Badr al-Jamali,
8568-572: The east; Meghalaya , Tripura , Mizoram and Bangladesh to the south; and West Bengal to the west via the Siliguri Corridor , a 22-kilometre-wide (14 mi) strip of land that connects the state to the rest of India. Assamese and Bodo are two of the official languages for the entire state and Meitei ( Manipuri ) is recognised as an additional official language in three districts of Barak Valley and Hojai district . in Hojai district and for
8687-798: The entire Brahmaputra valley , was called Assam (e.g. Mughals used Asham ); and the British province too was called Assam. Though the precise etymology of Assam is not clear, the name Assam is associated with the Ahom people , originally called Shyam ( Shan ). Assam and adjoining regions have evidences of human settlement from the beginning of the Stone Age . The hills at the height of 1,500 to 2,000 feet (460–615 m) were popular habitats probably due to availability of exposed dolerite basalt, useful for tool-making. Ambari site in Guwahati has revealed Shunga - Kushana era artefacts including flight of stairs and
8806-659: The estimated 1,314 orchid species found in India. Assam has petroleum , natural gas, coal, limestone and other minor minerals such as magnetic quartzite , kaolin , sillimanites , clay and feldspar . A small quantity of iron ore is available in western districts. Discovered in 1889, all the major petroleum-gas reserves are in Upper parts. A recent USGS estimate shows 399 million barrels (63,400,000 m ) of oil, 1,178 billion cubic feet (3.34 × 10 m ) of gas and 67 million barrels (10,700,000 m ) of natural gas liquids in
8925-487: The fifth National Family Health Survey . The reduction in fertility among Muslims has been from 3.6 in 2005–06 to 2.4 in 2019–20, a drop of 1.3 compared to 0.4 among Hindus in the same period, although from a lower base. Muslim percentage have increased from 9.22% in 1901 to 34.22% in 2011 (which is a sharp rise of 21.82% for past 120 years). In 2021, some estimates have placed Assam's Muslim population at about 14 million, out of 35 million total population, thus making up 40% of
9044-434: The first Muslim-invasions of the kingdom. After a series of battle, the invaders were roundly defeated and were chased up to Karatoya River . The Sultan of Bengal, terrified by the approaching army of Suhungmung, made peace by offering his two daughters and five paraganas, along with other articles as dowry to the king. The rising Koch king Biswa Singha also offered his submission, and the Ahom general Ton-Kham granted him all
9163-425: The first batch of people in Assam to have embraced Islam , is traced back to Ali Mech, a Koch-Rajbongshi . Juluha Muslims: The presence of Juluha Muslims, originating from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar , introduces a North Indian influence to Assam's cultural amalgamation. Their migration to Assam has played a role in shaping the religious and social dynamics of the region. On 5 June 2022, by cabinet decision of
9282-722: The fragmentation of Assam. In 1961, the government of Assam passed legislation making use of the Assamese language compulsory. It was withdrawn later under pressure from Bengali speaking people in Cachar . In the 1980s the Brahmaputra valley saw a six-year Assam Agitation triggered by the discovery of a sudden rise in registered voters on electoral rolls. It tried to force the government to identify and deport foreigners illegally migrating from neighbouring Bangladesh and to provide constitutional, legislative, administrative and cultural safeguards for
9401-715: The governor of the newly conquered region; that reached up to Hajo and intended to expand to Central Assam. Ghiasuddin Aulia was a Sufi from Baghdad who arrived after the conquest of Kamata kingdom by Alauddin Husain Shah . He established a khanqah atop the Garurachala Hills in Hajo . Claiming to have brought a lump of soil from Makkah with him, the building came to be known as the Barmaqam Powa-Makkah. Ghiyathuddin died and
9520-594: The headship of the Deputy Post Master General. At the turn of the 20th century, British India consisted of eight provinces that were administered either by a governor or a lieutenant-governor. Assam Province was one among the major eight provinces of British India. The table below shows the major original provinces during British India covering the Assam Province under the Administrative Office of
9639-509: The help of contributions from Shias from India, Pakistan, Iran and elsewhere. The shrine is one of the most important Shia sites in Syria, and draws many pilgrims from Iraq, Lebanon and Iran. In September 2008 a car bomb was detonated outside the shrine, killing 17. In Aleppo , the Mashhad al-Husayn from the Ayyubid period is the most important of Syrian medieval buildings. The shrine of al-Husayn
9758-528: The indigenous Assamese majority, which they felt was under threat due to the increase of migration from Bangladesh. The agitation ended after an accord (Assam Accord 1985) between its leaders and the Union Government, which remained unimplemented, causing simmering discontent. The post 1970s experienced the growth of armed separatist groups such as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and
9877-469: The 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. Indian 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. In Baksa district of Assam, from
9996-523: The large-scale Bengal-originating immigrants. Thus, there have been concerns that illegal immigration from neighbouring East Pakistan in India has contributed to a sharp rise in the Muslim population of Assam and has slowly destabilized the native inhabitants of Assam. This fear of "demographic invasion" by East Pakistani has been a political issue in Assam since the days of the Assam Movement (1979–1985). In 2001, there were 6 Muslim-majority districts in
10115-547: The largest population of the wild water buffalo in the world. The state has the highest diversity of birds in India with around 820 species. With subspecies the number is as high as 946. The mammal diversity in the state is around 190 species. Assam is remarkably rich in Orchid species and the Foxtail orchid is the state flower of Assam. The recently established Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park boasts more than 500 of
10234-671: The life-line of Assam, is an antecedent river older than the Himalayas, which has entrenched itself since they started rising. The river with steep gorges and rapids in Arunachal Pradesh entering Assam, becomes a braided river (at times 10 mi/16 km wide) and with tributaries, creates a flood plain (Brahmaputra Valley: 50–60 mi/80–100 km wide, 600 mi/1000 km long). The hills of Karbi Anglong , North Cachar and those in and close to Guwahati (also Khasi-Garo Hills) now eroded and dissected are originally parts of
10353-744: The lives of 2,191 and 100-500 respectively. The Assam Accord (1985) was a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Movement for the indigenous ethnic groups in New Delhi on 15 August 1985. The fundamental aspect of the Assam Accord was: foreigners who came to Assam on or after 25 March 1971, shall continue to be detected; deleted and practical steps shall be taken to expel such foreigners. The indigenous people of Assam (by meaning indigenous
10472-447: The lost territory. After numerous battles, finally after the Battle of Saraighat the Mughals were forced to retreat. The period after 1671 was very unstable due to the rivalry among the nobles, who wanted to arrest their own political power and influence by placing their own choice of prince in the throne. In 1679, Laluksola Borphukan , in hopes of becoming king with the help of Mughals, surrendered Guwahati without any battle. But after
10591-408: The most important factors contributing to the arrival and spread of Islam in Assam in the pre-colonial times was repeated invasions by Muslim rulers and generals. Though none of these invasions succeeded in establishing a rule it created a small but thriving Muslim population, aided by local rulers. Later Ahom kings encouraged a small Muslim immigration and even introduced Islamic prayers in court. In
10710-537: The name of Meghalaya. In 1972, Arunachal Pradesh (the North East Frontier Agency ) and Mizoram (from the Mizo Hills in the south) were separated from Assam as union territories; both became states in 1986. Since the restructuring of Assam after independence, communal tensions and violence remain. Separatist groups began forming along ethnic lines, and demands for autonomy and sovereignty grew, resulting in
10829-607: The night of 1 May 2014 until the early morning hours of 3 May a series of attacks occurred on Bengali Muslims in Assam . The perpetrator is unknown, but is suspected to be the National Democratic Front of Bodoland 's Songbijit faction. Speculated to be revenge for not voting for the National Democratic Front in the Lok Sabha elections , the death toll reached 32, mostly Muslims. On 7 June 2019, 82 families comprising more than 1,000 people — all Muslims — were evicted from
10948-635: The number of 'illegal Bangladeshis' in Assam of all religions is about 1 crore (10 million) and are scattered across the length and breadth of the state. A report reveals that out of total 33 districts in Assam, Bangladeshis dominate almost 15 districts of Assam. Several people reveal that Bangladeshi roumers made them specially Muslims victimized of "D" voters. This is even more problematic when names have been left out even after included on draft NRC by providing proper legacy papers. Assam Assam ( / ə ˈ s æ m , æ ˈ s æ m / ə- SAM , a- SAM ; Assamese: [ɔ'xɔm] )
11067-532: The other parts of Assam. The Mughals established four sarkars in the newly acquired land---among which were Dhekeri (between Sankosh and Manas ) and Kamrup (between Manas and Barnadi ). Kamrup was also renamed as Shujabad, after Shah Shuja , the Subahdar of Bengal . In 1630, a Muslim saint from Baghdad popularly known as Azan Faqir settled in Sivasagar . He preached to the local population about Islam and as
11186-453: The people became their disciples. So got the Ahom court greatly came under the influence of Sakta Brahman priests and astrologers. The religious policies concluded by Phuleshwari and the persecutions of unfavored Satras, embroiled the situation more along with the pressure of Paik system in the 18th century. This finally resulted in the Moamoria rebellion (1769–1805), which greatly weakened
11305-508: The region Kirrhadia , apparently after the Kirata population. In the classical period and up to the 12th century, the region east of the Karatoya river , largely congruent to present-day Assam, was called Kamarupa , and alternatively, Pragjyotisha . Though a western portion of Assam as a region continued to be called Kamrup , the Ahom kingdom that emerged in the east, and which came to dominate
11424-560: The same community were declared foreigners. Assam last NRC which was conducted on 2019 year, have found that 1.9 million people names were out of the list, of which nearly around 5 lakhs Bengali speaking Muslims names were excluded. On 21 September 2021, the government of Assam evicted around 5,000 Bengali speaking Muslims in Darrang district and the claimed reason for their eviction was that they had allegedly illegally encroached upon government lands. It has been also reported that two mosques and
11543-496: 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
11662-487: The soil and the climate were most suitable. Problems with the imported Han Chinese labourers from China and hostility from native Assamese resulted in the migration of forced labourers from central and eastern parts of India. After initial trial and error with planting the Chinese and the Assamese-Chinese hybrid varieties, the planters later accepted the local Camellia assamica as the most suitable variety for Assam. By
11781-411: The state in 2020 and 2022 . A significant geographical aspect of Assam is that it contains three of six physiographic divisions of India – The Northern Himalayas (Eastern Hills), The Northern Plains (Brahmaputra plain) and Deccan Plateau (Karbi Anglong). As the Brahmaputra flows in Assam the climate here is cold and there is rainfall most of the month. Geomorphic studies conclude that the Brahmaputra,
11900-477: The state of Assam. By 2011, this number had increased to 9. However, some have stated these numbers have declined in recent years, though there is no concrete proof. 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
12019-699: The state population. Below is a breakdown of the Muslim population by district in the Indian state of Assam according to the 2011 Census of India : Muslims are majority in eleven districts out of thirty-three in Assam. Muslims are majority in Dhubri , Bongaigaon , Goalpara , Barpeta , Morigaon , South Salmara district , Hojai , Nagaon , Darrang , Karimganj and Hailakandi . Highest concentration in Cachar , Nalbari , Kamrup , Kokrajhar and Chirang . Assamese Muslim community
12138-486: The state's native Muslim population. The AIUDF Party spokesperson accused the BJP of employing a ' divide and rule ' strategy in Assam , emphasizing their alleged focus on creating divisions within the Muslim population by exploiting differences between indigenous and non-indigenous groups for political gains. Bengali-speaking Muslims, also known as Miya people , who initially migrated from Eastern and Northern Bengal during
12257-478: The state. Assam is one of the richest biodiversity zones in the world and consists of tropical rainforests , deciduous forests, riverine grasslands , bamboo orchards and numerous wetland ecosystems; Many are now protected as national parks and reserved forests. Assam has wildlife sanctuaries, the most prominent of which are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites -the Kaziranga National Park , on
12376-498: The tea growers formed the Indian Tea Association in 1888 to lobby to retain the status quo. The organisation was successful in this, but even after India's independence, conditions of the labourers have improved very little. In the later part of the 18th century, religious tensions and atrocities by the nobles led to the Moamoria rebellion (1769–1805), resulting in tremendous casualties of lives and property. The rebellion
12495-465: The territories that were received as dowry from the Sultan of Bengal on the condition of annual tribute. The successors of Suhungmung, Suklenmung and Sukhaamphaa , sent many expeditions against the Bhuyans and Nagas. But were significant with the wars with the Koch. During the reign of Sukhaamphaa , the Ahoms lost to a Koch army led by Chilarai and the Ahoms had to accept Koch supremacy and had to give up
12614-444: The tracts of north of Brahmaputra. However, the lost tract was soon recovered with further military expeditions. Soon after the death of Nara Narayan his kingdom, got divided between the sons of Nara Narayan and Chilarai as Koch Hajo and Koch Bihar . In 1609, Laxmi Narayan king of Cooch Behar accepted the vassalage of Mughals , and the Koch Hajo king Raghudev and later his son Parikshit sought assistance from Ahoms. In 1612,
12733-516: The year 1524. The rivalry between the Chutias and Ahoms for the supremacy of eastern Assam led to a series of conflicts between them from the early 16th century. The Dimasa, a Bodo-Kachari dynasty that ruled from the 13th century until 1854, controlled territories stretching from the Dikhow River to central and southern Assam, with their capital at Dimapur. By the early 17th century, with the expansion of
12852-539: Was a sub division of Sylhet district before 1947. However, the Radcliffe Boundary Commission separated Karimganj from Sylhet. The district of Hailakandi and Cachar were under Twipra Kingdom and subsequently under Koch Kingdom from 16th-18th century A.D, followed by Kachari Kingdom from 18th-19th century A D. The Sylheti Muslims were there even before the Kacharis but less in number. There were no natural boundaries between Karimganj and Cachar so migration
12971-419: Was built on a place indicated to a shepherd by a holy man who appeared to him in a dream, and was built by members of the local Shia community. The present building is a reconstruction: the original suffered severe damage in 1918 from a huge explosion, and for forty years lay in ruins. The original restoration largely succeeded in restoring the mashhad to its former appearance. Later additions included covering
13090-636: Was concluded. According to the treaty, the Ahoms had to acknowledging Mughal supremacy, ceded the territory west of the Bharali on the north bank and the Kalang on the south bank along with a huge amount of war indemnity and handing over the sons of the Gohains as hostage and two Ahom princesses to the Mughal harem. Soon after the departure of Mir Jumla , Jayadhwaj Singha died and the new king Chakradhwaj Singha began preparations to overthrow Mughal supremacy and to recover
13209-824: Was defeated after fierce resistance, which led to the Burmese occupation of Assam. A reign of terror was unleashed by the Burmese on the Assamese people, who fled to neighbouring kingdoms and British-ruled Bengal . The Burmese reached the East India Company 's borders, and the First Anglo-Burmese War ensued in 1824. The war ended under the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, with the Company taking control of Western Assam and installing Purandar Singha as king of Upper Assam in 1833. The arrangement lasted until 1838 and thereafter
13328-824: Was estimated at 28.67 million in 2006 and at 30.57 million in 2011 and is expected to reach 34.18 million by 2021 and 35.60 million by 2026. As per the 2011 census, the total population of Assam was 31,169,272. The total population of the state has increased from 26,638,407 to 31,169,272 in the last ten years with a growth rate of 16.93%. Mazar (mausoleum) Features Types Types Features Clothing Genres Art music Folk Prose Islamic Poetry Genres Forms Arabic prosody National literatures of Arab States Concepts Texts Fictional Arab people South Arabian deities A mazār ( Arabic : مَزَار ), also transliterated as mazaar , also known as marqad ( مَرْقَد ) or in
13447-533: Was first separated from Bengal in 1874 as the 'North-East Frontier' non-regulation province , also known as the Assam Chief-Commissionership. It was incorporated into the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam in 1905 after the partition of Bengal (1905–1911) and re-established in 1912 as Assam Province . After a few initially unsuccessful attempts to gain independence for Assam during the 1850s, anti-colonial Assamese joined and actively supported
13566-402: 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. Early establishments of these immigrant Bengalis were in
13685-401: 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 community in Assam is at 2.4 which is higher than the 1.6 for Hindus as of 2019-20 research by
13804-453: Was shattered in the early 19th century when it failed to resist the Burmese invasions , which led to its annexation. Chutia , a Bodo-Kachari group by origin, held the regions on both the banks of Brahmaputra with its domain in the area eastwards from Vishwanath (north bank) and Buridihing (south bank), in Upper Assam and in the state of Arunachal Pradesh . It was annexed by the Ahoms in
13923-591: Was soon defeated by Sandhya, the Rai of Kamarupa, who captured and executed him. 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. In 1498, Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah dispatched military general Shah Ismail Ghazi with 24,000 soldiers and
14042-465: Was suppressed but the kingdom was severely weakened by the civil war. Political rivalry between Prime Minister Purnananda Burhagohain and Badan Chandra Borphukan , the Ahom Viceroy of Western Assam, led to an invitation to the Burmese by the latter, in turn leading to three successive Burmese invasions of Assam . The reigning monarch Chandrakanta Singha tried to check the Burmese invaders but he
14161-631: Was then Assam. In 1963, the Naga Hills district became the 16th state of India under the name of Nagaland . Part of Tuensang was added to Nagaland. In 1970, in response to the demands of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people of the Meghalaya Plateau , the districts containing the Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, and Garo Hills were formed into an autonomous state within Assam; in 1972 this became a separate state under
#878121