GUWAHATI: The Assamese room Tuesday recognized the state’s approximately 400,000 Assamese-speaking Muslims as “native Assamese Muslims” and a subgroup of the larger indigenous Assamese community.
These people do not have any migration history from East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh).
This group was previously known as “native Muslims”, but without any official recognition. Approval by the BJP-led state government creates a clear distinction between indigenous Muslims and Bengali-speaking immigrant Muslims of Bangladeshi descent, comprising most of the state’s Muslim population.
Assam has the highest percentage of Muslims after Lakshadweep and J&K. The 2011 census showed that of Assam’s total population, more than 34% are Muslim, of which just over 37% are indigenous Assamese speaking Muslims.
The cabinet decision also recognized the long-standing aspirations of Assamese-speaking Muslims whose identity as indigenous Assamese precedes their religious identity.
Cabinet Minister Keshab Mahanta said, “The cabinet has adopted a new nomenclature for five Muslim groups – Goria, Moria, Jolah (only those who live in tea gardens), Desi and Syed (only those who speak Assamese). ). From there, they would be known as the indigenous Assamese Muslims. ”
“This move will ensure their development in health, cultural identity, education, financial inclusion, skills development and women’s empowerment,” the cabinet said.
The Assamese Ethnic Minority Development Board has proposed a new nomenclature to recognize the ethnicity of contaminated Assamese-speaking Muslims by 2020. “There is no official definition of who is an Indigenous Assamese,” subject Council President Muminul Aowal said.
This group of Muslims trace their lineage back to the 15th century and most of them converted to Islam by converting between the 13th and 17th centuries and none of these groups can be called diaspora Muslims. reside. Gorias and Morias worked for the Ahom kings and the Desis were originally Koch-Rajbongshis converted to Islam. The Muslims among those brought by the British from the Chota Nagpur plateau to work in the tea gardens were called Jolha.
Migrant Bengali-speaking Muslims, who make up more than 63 percent of the state’s total Muslim population, are the block around election battles that have raged in the state. Assamese-speaking Muslims are not the deciding factor in any election nor are they beneficiaries of government funds for minorities because of their numbers.
Recognition for Indigenous Assamese Muslims is significant because the state government has established a high-powered committee to recommend measures to implement Article 6 of the Assam Agreement, which proposes “protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic and heritage identity of the Assamese”. The commission has also been authorized to determine who the Assamese are.
Janagosthiya Samannay ParishadAssam (JSPA), is also undertaking a first-time appreciation of Assamese Muslims because it distinguishes them from immigrants, of Bangladeshi origin or who speak Bengali.
These people do not have any migration history from East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh).
This group was previously known as “native Muslims”, but without any official recognition. Approval by the BJP-led state government creates a clear distinction between indigenous Muslims and Bengali-speaking immigrant Muslims of Bangladeshi descent, comprising most of the state’s Muslim population.
Assam has the highest percentage of Muslims after Lakshadweep and J&K. The 2011 census showed that of Assam’s total population, more than 34% are Muslim, of which just over 37% are indigenous Assamese speaking Muslims.
The cabinet decision also recognized the long-standing aspirations of Assamese-speaking Muslims whose identity as indigenous Assamese precedes their religious identity.
Cabinet Minister Keshab Mahanta said, “The cabinet has adopted a new nomenclature for five Muslim groups – Goria, Moria, Jolah (only those who live in tea gardens), Desi and Syed (only those who speak Assamese). ). From there, they would be known as the indigenous Assamese Muslims. ”
“This move will ensure their development in health, cultural identity, education, financial inclusion, skills development and women’s empowerment,” the cabinet said.
The Assamese Ethnic Minority Development Board has proposed a new nomenclature to recognize the ethnicity of contaminated Assamese-speaking Muslims by 2020. “There is no official definition of who is an Indigenous Assamese,” subject Council President Muminul Aowal said.
This group of Muslims trace their lineage back to the 15th century and most of them converted to Islam by converting between the 13th and 17th centuries and none of these groups can be called diaspora Muslims. reside. Gorias and Morias worked for the Ahom kings and the Desis were originally Koch-Rajbongshis converted to Islam. The Muslims among those brought by the British from the Chota Nagpur plateau to work in the tea gardens were called Jolha.
Migrant Bengali-speaking Muslims, who make up more than 63 percent of the state’s total Muslim population, are the block around election battles that have raged in the state. Assamese-speaking Muslims are not the deciding factor in any election nor are they beneficiaries of government funds for minorities because of their numbers.
Recognition for Indigenous Assamese Muslims is significant because the state government has established a high-powered committee to recommend measures to implement Article 6 of the Assam Agreement, which proposes “protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic and heritage identity of the Assamese”. The commission has also been authorized to determine who the Assamese are.
Janagosthiya Samannay ParishadAssam (JSPA), is also undertaking a first-time appreciation of Assamese Muslims because it distinguishes them from immigrants, of Bangladeshi origin or who speak Bengali.
