A comprehensive study of history and heritage of Muslims in Assam launched

Guwahati: The Al-Ameen Welfare Society, a Guwahati based Non-Political voluntary organization formed in June 2003 has undertaken a project to chronicle the rich history of the Muslims of Assam with their cultural heritage and contributions to greater Society of Assam.

Komoruzzaman Ahmed, founder president of Al-Ameen Welfare Society and a member of the advisory committee of the study said, "Assam had a Muslim population of 7,714,619 (Census : 2001), accounting for 30.9 per cent of the total population of the state. Historical records show that Muslims started coming to Assam as early as 1206 AD and settled in Assam. Their population during these long eight centuries grew up mainly through five processes; firstly, settlement of some of the soldiers who came to invade the region during the period of Delhi Sultanate and Mughal emperors, secondly, settlement of migrants sponsored by the kings and feudal lords of this region; thirdly, settlement of the traders who occasionally came from the Gangetic Valley and Bengal, fourthly, conversion of some local people to Islam, and lastly, immigration and settlement of landless agricultural peasants from erstwhile East Bengal, now Bangladesh, mainly during the last one hundred years."

Ahmed further said: "Though, Muslims maintained their religious identity, they assimilated themselves fully with the Assamese Society in all other aspects and became an important constituent of the greater Society of Assam. Now it has been felt necessary, that along with this assimilation process the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Muslims who constitute almost 31 % of the total population be recorded for posterity, as no comprehensive study of this nature has been done so far."

The study aims to research and record its findings in the following five volumes as 1. History and Heritage of Muslims of Assam, 2. Ethno Cultural Study of Muslims of Assam, 3. A comprehensive study of the old historical Masjids, Mazars, Dargahs, Wakf Properties etc., 4. A comprehensive study of Assamese Islamic literature, 5. Geographical distribution of Muslims of Assam and their Socio-Economic status.

The study has greater relevance and will have an impact in disseminating information and will help in understanding the Muslims in Assam.

Mr. Ahmed said: "Since the Muslims of Assam have a socio-cultural identity, it is, therefore, felt necessary that their history and heritage and their contributions to the larger society of Assam be studied, probed and recorded. This, it is felt, will help the Muslims of today realize their ancestors' positive role in the formation of a cohesive and harmonious society in Assam in the past'. He also laments that secular assimilation of Muslims with other communities has slowed down in the recent years due several factors.

Al-Ameen Welfare Society earlier released an anthology of biographies of 226 Muslims who contributed towards the socio-economic or cultural heritage of Muslims in Assam. The anthology is available in two volumes.

Mr. Ahmed made it clear that the study will be confined to the Muslims of Assam and the term 'Muslims' will mean all the permanent Muslim residents of Assam, and 'Assam' means the territory of the mediaeval Kamrup and / or Assam as identified during different historical periods and the contemporary period. The time period expected to be covered in this study is from the beginning of the 13th century AD to the beginning of the twenty-first century AD.

Team of Specialists / Principal Investigators, Advisers associated with the project include Dr. Mahammed Taher, a retired professor and prominent scholar of Geography as president, and Dr. A.N.M. Irshad Ali as working president. Other members are Dr. Abu Nasar Saied Ahmed, K.Z.N. Ahmed, Inamul Islam, Iltaf Hussain Hazarika, Abdul Harmine (Ex Officio), and member Secretary cum Convenor Hasibur Rahman

Mr. Ahmed is of the opinion that lots of Islamic literature is available in Assamese but these are not consolidated and hence this is first of its kind to consolidate the history and heritage of Muslims of Assam. He is hopeful that the completed work will not only preserve the rich history and traditions of Muslims of Assam, but also it will help the people to understand the process of assimilation and integration more fully and in turn it will contribute towards better understanding and social harmony.

"This is an ambitious programme and we expect to complete it in about 3.5 years," said Mr. Ahmed. He appealed to all to help the project with resources.

source: TwoCircles.net