GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued stringent conditions for the recognition of migrant Bangladesh-origin Bengali-speaking Muslims as indigenous people of the state.
Speaking on Saturday, Sarma highlighted that those aspiring for indigenous status must adhere to specific criteria deeply entrenched in the cultural ethos of Assam.
Among the conditions laid down, he stressed the cessation of practices such as having more than two children, polygamy, and early marriage of minor daughters, deeming them incongruent with Assamese culture.
Addressing a gathering, Sarma articulated, “If they wish to be recognised as indigenous, they must integrate into our societal fabric by forsaking these practices.”
He further underscored the importance of education, urging parents to steer their children away from madrassas towards professions such as medicine and engineering.
Central to Sarma’s discourse was the issue of land encroachment, particularly on Satras, traditional Vaishnavite monasteries integral to Assamese heritage.
Expressing concern over such encroachments, he queried the legitimacy of claims to indigenous identity while engaging in such activities.
The backdrop to Sarma’s directives lies in Assam’s complex demographic makeup.
The state boasts the second-largest Muslim population in India after Jammu and Kashmir, with Bengali-speaking Bangladesh-origin migrants constituting a significant portion.
However, a 2011 census outlined a contrast within the Muslim populace, distinguishing between Bengali-speaking migrants and Assamese-speaking indigenous Muslims.
In 2022, the Assam cabinet accorded recognition to approximately 40 lakh Assamese-speaking Muslims as “indigenous Assamese Muslims”, a subgroup within the broader Assamese community.
This distinction, however, excludes the majority of Bangladesh-origin migrants, who constitute around 63% of the Muslim population.
The recognition of “indigenous” Assamese Muslims by the cabinet underscored a larger discourse on identity and belonging in Assam.
Comprising groups such as Goria, Moria, Jolah (specifically those in tea gardens), Desi, and Syed (Assamese-speaking only), this acknowledgment outlined a clear line between indigenous and migrant Muslim communities.
