Miya people
মিঞা/মিয়া | |
---|---|
Total population | |
c. 11-12 million (estimated) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Assamese Muslims, Mahimal |
The Miya people, alternatively identified as Na-Asamiya by themselves (ন অসমীয়া, lit. neo-Assamese), denote the progeny of Bengali Muslim migrants originating from the contemporary Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Rajshahi Divisions.[3] These individuals established residence in the Brahmaputra Valley during the 20th century, coinciding with the period of British colonial rule in Assam. The migration of the Miya people was actively promoted by the Colonial British Government from the Bengal Province, spanning the years 1757 to 1942. This migratory trend persisted until the year 1947.[3] Presently, the term "Miya" is employed as a discriminatory label.[4]
Etymology
The nomenclature "Miya" finds its etymological roots in "mian," an honorific of Persian origin commonly employed throughout the Indian subcontinent when addressing a Muslim gentleman. Originally utilized in a derogatory manner against the aforementioned community, the term has undergone a process of re-appropriation by a cadre of Miya poets who are actively asserting their cultural identity.[5] Presently, "Miya" or "Miya Musalman" has entered the sphere of serious discourse.[6]
Concurrently, the term "Na-Asamiya," as articulated in the Assamese language, conveys the literal meaning of 'neo-Assamese.' This term was adopted by the community and forced the local elites in Assam as a means of establishing a connection with the region by pushing political power backed by the Indian National Congress and AIUDF during their tenure and creating a new identity which didn't existed before.[3]
Furthermore, an alternative designation for this community is "Charua Musalman," signifying Muslims residing in the chars (riverine islands), a preference evident in their settlement patterns. They are also referred to as "Pamua Musalman," denoting Muslim farmers, given that agriculture serves as their primary source of livelihood.[7]
History
Internal migration to Assam
The internal migration of Bengali Muslims from Rajshahi, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions of British Bengal presidency (present Bangladesh) to Kamrup (present Assam) started during the census decade of 1901–1911.[8] According to census reports, there was a large-scale migration of human population from eastern Bengal to Assam between 1911 and 1941.[9] 85% of the immigrant population were socially and economically underprivileged Muslims who settled down in the wastelands of Assam.[9] The majority of the internal migrants came from the erstwhile undivided Mymensingh and Rangpur districts of present Bangladesh, What were territories of Kamrupa Kingdom.[10]
The internal migration of Muslims peasants from
The local gentry of Assam including matabbars, Barpetia matigiris, Marwaris and Assamese moneylenders encouraged the internal migration out of their own interests. The matabbars (literally meaning 'influential person' in Bengali) were the earlier migrants, who owned large amounts of fallow cultivable lands ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 acres. With the ambition of becoming landlords they would send out the message of availability of cultivable lands to their impoverished kinsmen in their native villages in eastern Bengal. They would then either unofficially lease out their lands to the internal migrant Muslims who arrived later or hire them to cultivate their lands. Thus they would act as de facto landlords. The Barpetia matigiris were a section of Assamese gentry in Barpeta district who made profit by selling excess lands to the internal migrant Muslims and encouraged further migration to make even quicker profits. The Marwaris and the Assamese money lenders financed the internal migrant Muslims for the cultivation of jute, ahu rice, pulses and vegetables.
Demography
Miyas have a population of almost over 10 million which is spread throughout Assam covering 35% of the state population as of 2021 estimation,
Language
In the Presidential address of the 1940
Gradually the Assamese intelligentsia also began to accept the migrant Muslims in the fold of Assamese identity. Benudhar Sharma, President of 1956
With the official acceptance of Assamese language and close proximity to Goalpariya speakers, the Miya have gradually also developed a creole Miya home language. The Miya officially adopted the Assamese language during the language movement.[17][clarification needed] In formal and official meetings, they are able to switch to Standard Assamese.
Discrimination
2. Communal Rights -1950
5. Nellie massacre-1983
6. Nagabanda , Chaulkhowa massacre- 1983
7. Amtenga , Tuslijora massacre- 1991
8. Bashbari massacre- 1994
9. Naryanguri massacre -2012
10. Udalguri massacre -2008
Thousands of such discrimination can found if it is searched [[18]]
Poetry
Numerous scholars affiliated with the Miya community are actively engaged in endeavors aimed at the amelioration of Miya society, primarily through the medium of Miya poetry.[19] A central objective of this literary pursuit is the reclamation of the term "Miya," which frequently assumes a pejorative connotation when used by non-Muslims.[4] The thematic orientation of Miya poetry converges on addressing multifaceted challenges such as poverty, population growth, and the promotion of literacy within the Miya community.
Notably, the emergence of Miya poetry has generated controversy in the socio-cultural landscape of Assam, particularly eliciting responses from the indigenous populace. The inception of this movement can be traced back to the publication of "Write Down, I am a Miya" by Hafiz Ahmed in 2016.[20] The ensuing discourse surrounding Miya poetry has led to accusations, both in media discourse and formal complaints to law enforcement agencies, characterizing this literary expression as "anti-Assamese," notwithstanding its composition in the Assamese language.[21][22][23]
Notable people
- Hafiz Ahmed (born 1962), social activist
- Osman Ali Sadagar (1856–1948), politician and educationist
- Abdul Halim(born 1980), social activist, politician, educationist
See also
- Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983
Notes
- ^ a b "From history to lungis: How this Assam politician is battling for a distinct Miya Muslim identity". scroll.in. 20 March 2022.
- ^ Singh, Bikash. "Assam's indigenous Muslims may soon get a development board". The Economic Times.
- ^ ISSN 0085-6401.
- ^ a b Dasgupta, Sneharshi (29 October 2022). "The Politics of Identity in Assam: Deaths, Defiance, and Doubtful Voters". TravellersUniversity. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ Daniyal, Shoaib (14 July 2019). "'I am Miya': Why poetry by Bengal-origin Muslims in their mother tongue is shaking up Assam". Scroll.in. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ Kumar, Aletta Andre,Abhimanyu. "Protest poetry: Assam's Bengali Muslims take a stand". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ISBN 978-1-003-28554-0.
- ^ Baruah (1999), p. 56: "The disappointment of the nineteenth-century colonial officials, however, gave way to optimism by 1911, as dramatic trends of migration began to appear just prior to that census."
- ^ JSTOR 44147982.
- ^ Sharma (2011), p. 100: "Entire households moved into Assam from the East Bengal districts of Mymensingh, Pabna, Bogra, Rangpur and Rajshahi."
- ^ "Miya, Muslim and Assamese Socio-Political History of Assam". Indilens.com. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ Bhaumik, Subir (April 2011). "Risk of durable disorder". Seminar (620). New Delhi: Seminar Publications. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "The JSPA claims Assam today has about 1.4 crore Muslims as of 2021". The Hindu. 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Dehumanising Muslims in Assam". thehoot.org. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20190327145905/https://indilens.com/514954-miya-muslim-and-assamese-socio-cultural-history-of-assam/ Miya on History
- ^ Wadud, Aman (21 May 2016). "All Hindu Consolidation or the last battle to protect Assamese Identity: Assam Polls Results". Sabrang. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "East Bengal rooted Muslim or Miyah and Line System in Assam-1920". Indilens.com. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ https://www.uml.edu/news/stories/2022/dutta-miya-research.aspx Miya People Losing Indian Citizenship, Facing Mass Detentions
- ^ "Miya Poetry". Economic and Political Weekly. 57 (17). 23 April 2022.
- ^ Baishya, Amit R. (21 March 2020). ""Multipartner Mud Dances": The Uneventful Entanglement of Humans and Animals in Two Assamese Poems". Café Dissensus. No. 4.
- ISBN 9781108840644.
- ^ "Interview | There is a Conspiracy to Show Bengal-Origin Muslims as Anti-Assamese: Hafiz Ahmed". The Wire. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ আসামের মিঞা কবিতার ইতিহাস, ভূগোল ও দেশপ্রেম. The Indian Express (Opinion).
References
- Baruah, Sanjib (1999). India Against Itself: Assam and the Politics of Nationality. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-565840-8.
- Baruah, Sanjib (2020). In the Name of the Nation: India and Its Northeast. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9781503611290.
- Khandakar, Abdullah (2016). Social Exclusion of Inhabitants of Chars: A Study of Dhubri District in Assam (PDF) (M.Phil.). Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- Sharma, Jayeeta (2011). Empire's Garden: Assam and the making of India. Durham and London: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-5049-1.