Islam in West Bengal
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According to the 2011 census, West Bengal has over 24.6 million Muslims, making up 27% of the state's population. The vast majority of Muslims in West Bengal are ethnic Bengali Muslims, numbering around over 22 million and comprising 24.1% of the state population (mostly they reside in Rural areas). There also exists an Urdu-speaking Muslim community numbering 2.6 million, constituting 2.9% of the state population and mostly resides in Urban areas of the state.
Muslims form the majority of the population in three districts: Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur.[4] Among these, Uttar Dinajpur is notable as ethnic Bengali Muslims comprise 28% of the district's population, with the remaining 22% being Urdu and Surjapuri speakers.[5]
History
Summarize
Perspective
Islam first arrived in Bengal in the year 1204.[6] The establishment of the first Muslim state in Bengal, the Bengal Sultanate, in 1352 by Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah is credited to giving rise to a Bengali socio-linguistic identity.[7] The Sultanate's influence was expansive, with the Hindu-born sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah funding the construction of Islamic institutions as far as Makkah Al Mukarramah and Madinah Al Munawwarah, which came to be known as al-Madaris al-Banjaliyyah (Bengali madrasas). Sufis also became prominent in this period, such as Usman Serajuddin, also known as Akhi Siraj Bengali, who was a native of Gaur in western Bengal and became the Sultanate's court scholar during Ilyas Shah's reign.[8][9][10] Alongside Persian and Arabic, the Sultanate also used the Bengali language to gain patronage and support, contrary to previous states which exclusively favored liturgical languages such as Sanskrit and Pali.[11][12] Islam became especially widespread when the region was under Mughal rule from 1576 to 1765 and was commonly known as Bengal Subah.[citation needed] The Mughal Emperors considered Bengal their most prized province. The Mughal emperor Akbar is credited with developing the modern Bengali calendar.[13]
Population
Summarize
Perspective
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 3,954,776 | — |
| 1911 | 2,955,098 | −25.3% |
| 1921 | 4,101,516 | +38.8% |
| 1931 | 4,521,313 | +10.2% |
| 1941 | 5,506,442 | +21.8% |
| 1951 | 4,402,330 | −20.1% |
| 1961 | 5,515,348 | +25.3% |
| 1971 | 7,983,963 | +44.8% |
| 1981 | 9,743,209 | +22.0% |
| 1991 | 12,050,000 | +23.7% |
| 2001 | 18,240,543 | +51.4% |
| 2011 | 24,654,825 | +35.2% |
| Source: [14] | ||
As per as Indian Census figures, The Muslim population in West Bengal has increased from 19.85 per cent in 1951 to27 per cent in 2011.[15]
Partition and immigration
The Muslim population in West Bengal before 1947 partition was around 33%.[16] After partition of Bengal in 1947, some Muslims from West Bengal left for East Pakistan, (Present-Day-Bangladesh). Estimates show that 1,634,718 Muslim refugees from West Bengal settling permanently in East Pakistan during 1947–1951.[17]
Population by district (2011)
| # | District | Total population | Muslim population | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murshidabad | 7,103,807 | 4,707,573 | 66.88% |
| 2 | South 24 Parganas | 8,161,961 | 2,903,075 | 35.57% |
| 3 | North 24 Parganas | 10,009,781 | 2,584,684 | 25.82% |
| 4 | Malda | 3,988,845 | 2,045,151 | 51.27% |
| 5 | Bardhaman | 7,717,563 | 1,599,764 | 20.73% |
| 6 | Uttar Dinajpur | 3,007,134 | 1,501,170 | 49.92% |
| 7 | Nadia | 5,167,600 | 1,382,682 | 26.76% |
| 8 | Birbhum | 3,502,404 | 1,298,054 | 37.06% |
| 9 | Howrah | 4,850,029 | 1,270,641 | 26.20% |
| 10 | Kolkata | 4,496,694 | 926,414 | 20.60% |
| 11 | Hooghly | 5,519,145 | 870,204 | 15.77% |
| 12 | Purba Medinipur | 5,095,875 | 743,436 | 14.59% |
| 13 | Cooch Behar | 2,819,086 | 720,033 | 26.54% |
| 14 | Paschim Medinipur | 5,913,457 | 620,554 | 10.49% |
| 15 | Jalpaiguri | 3,872,846 | 445,817 | 11.51% |
| 16 | Dakshin Dinajpur | 1,676,276 | 412,788 | 24.63% |
| 17 | Bankura | 3,596,674 | 290,450 | 8.08% |
| 18 | Purulia | 2,930,115 | 227,249 | 7.76% |
| 19 | Darjeeling | 1,846,823 | 105,086 | 5.69% |
Linguistic groups
According to the census , there were around 24.6 million Muslims living in West Bengal, comprising 27% of the state's population. Nearly most of them , about 22 million are native Bengali Muslims, constituting around 90% of the total Muslim population in the state, and are mostly concentrated in rural and Semi Urban areas. The Urdu-speaking Muslims from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh constitute rest , numbering around 2.6 million and are mainly concentrated in Kolkata, Asansol, Islampur subdivision of West Bengal.
Notable Muslims from West Bengal
- Murshid Quli Khan, the first Nawab of Bengal, Murshidaabad.
- Siraj ud-Daulah, last independent nawab of Bengal, Murshidaabad.
- Alivardi Khan, Nawab of Bengal, Murshidaabad.
- Titumir, Indian Bengali Revolutionary, Barasat, North 24 Parganas
- Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bengali poet and music lyricist composer, writer known as Bidrohi Kobi, Aasansol.
- Begum Rokeya, Bengali feminist thinker, writer, Philanthropist in Pre Independent India, Belgharia.
- Alimuddin Ahmad, Bengali Freedom Fighter in Pre Independent India, Kolkata
- Syed Badrudduja, Mayor of Kolkata
- Syed Mustafa Siraj, Indian Bengali Writer, Murshidaabad
- Masudur Rahman Baidya, First physically disabled Asian swimmer to cross the English Channel.
- Mohammed Ali Qamar is a first Bengali Indian to win a gold medal in Commonwealth Games,kolkata.
- Abu Sayeed Ayyub, Sahitya Akademi Award winner Writer, literary critic, Educator in Kolkata.
- Abul Bashar, Banga Bhushan winner Novelist, Poet
- Farha Khatun is a National Awarded documentary filmmaker, Kolkata
- Muhammad Mohsin, Philanthropist and Educator.
Kolkata
- Abu Sayeed Ayyub, Indian philosopher, teacher, literary critic and writer.
- Altamas Kabir, Indian former Chief Justice of India
- Alimuddin Ahmad, Indian Freedom Fighter
- Abdul Masood, Indian Former cricketer.
- Gauri Ayyub, Indian Teacher and Social activists
- Hashim Abdul Halim, Indian Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
- Mohammed Ali Qamar, boxer, medalist in Commonwealth Games.
- Mohammad Hamid Ansari, former Vice President of India
- Mohammed Salim (footballer), Indian footballer
- Mohammed Salim (politician), The Minister for Technical Education and Training, Youth Welfare
- Nusrat Jahan, Indian Bengali Actress.
- Firhad Hakim, Mayor of Kolkata, MIC Urban Development and Municipal Affairs
- Begum Rokeya, Bengali feminist thinker, writer, Philanthropist
- Farha Khatun, 67th National Film Awards Winner Documentary Filmmaker
- Sultan Ahmed (politician), Indian politician and former Union Minister of State Tourism.
- Noor Alam Chowdhury, Former Minister of Animal Resources Development.
- Mohammed Rafique (footballer), Indian footballer
- Sahil Khan, Indian gymnast and model of India
- Nafisa Ali, Indian actress, politician and social activist
- Pinky Lilani, Indian author, motivational speaker, food expert and women's advocate
- Rupam Islam, Founder of Bengali rock music band Fossils
- Kabir Suman, Indian Musician, lyricist , Former Journalists & Actor
- Kazi Masum Akhtar, Educator and writer and Padma Shri winner.
- Shehla Pervin, Indian Scientist
- Wajid Ali Shah, last king of calcutta from Lucknow.
Malda
- Shahzada Barbak, the Sultan of Bengal
- Saifuddin Firuz Shah, the Sultan of Bengal
- Alaul Haq, Bengali Islamic scholar
- Ghulam Husain Salim, Historian
- Usman Serajuddin, Bengali Islamic scholar
- A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury, former Railways Minister (India)
- Mausam Noor former M.P of Maldaha Uttar
- Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury M.P of Maldaha Dakshin and Ex-State Health Minister
- Isha Khan Choudhury current M.L.A of Sujapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
- Abu Nasar Khan Choudhury Ex-M.L.A of Sujapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency) and Ex-Minister of Science and Technology
- Sabina Yeasmin current M.L.A of Mothabari and Minister of North Bengal Development, Irrigation Department
- Rubi Noor former three times M.L.A of Sujapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Murshidabad
- Murshid Quli Khan, the first Nawab of Bengal
- Alivardi Khan, Nawab of Bengal
- Amina Begum, Princess of Bengal.
- Siraj ud-Daulah, last independent nawab of Bengal
- Abul Hayat, actor
- Atiul Islam, Indian Filmmaker
- Mir Afsar Ali, radio jockey, actor
- Abdul Alim, folk singer, songwriter
- Baby Islam, cinematographer and director
- Syed Mustafa Siraj, Bengali writer
- Mujibar Rahaman, Bengali Documentary Filmmaker
- Moinul Hassan, writer, member of Parliament of India
- Mabinul Haq, Bengali writer
- Moniruddin Khan, Bengali poet and writer
- Abul Bashar, Bengali writer
- Syed Badrudduja, Former mayor of Kolkata
- Jahanara Imam, writer and political activist
- Zainal Abedin, politician and four time former MP of Jangipur
- Niamot Sheikh, M.L.A of Hariharpara, Hariharpara
- Babar Ali (teacher), "youngest headmaster in the world" by BBC
Hooghly
- Mohammad Abu Bakr Siddique, was a Bengali Islamic scholar and the inaugural Pir of Furfura Sharif, West Bengal
- Abdul Mannan, politician
- Muhammad Mohsin, Bengali social reformer, Islamic scholar, philanthropist
- Syed Rahim Nabi, retired professional Indian international footballer who primarily played as a midfielder though he could play as a striker and defender.
- Abbas Siddiqui, founder of Indian Secular Front
- Nawsad Siddique, politician
Bardhaman
- Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bengali poet and music lyricist composer, writer known as Bidrohi Kobi.
- Abul Hashim, Islamic thinker and Freedom Fighter.
- Abdullah el Baqui, Bengali Islamic scholar, writer, Freedom Fighter.
- Nawab Abdul Jabbar, Indian bureaucrat, Social worker.
- Sheikh Saidul Haque, The first and incumbent M.P. from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency.
- Abu Ayesh Mondal, Former chairman of West Bengal Minority Development & Finance Corporation.
- Siddiqullah Chowdhury, politician, minister and president Of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.
Birbhum
- Rezaul Karim , Nationalist.
- Ekram Ali, Bengali poet
- Mosarraf Hossain, Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
- Manirul Islam (politician),
North 24 Parganas
- Titumir One of the First Bengali Freedom Fighter
- Azizul Haque (educator), Educationist, Education minister for Bengal .
- Mohammad Akram Khan, Bengali journalist,
- Masudur Rahman Baidya, Bengali swimmer.
- Sheikh Sahil, Footballer
- Rafikul Islam Mondal Indian politician, MLA from the Basirhat Uttar.
- Haji Nurul Islam Indian politician, MLA from the Haroa.
- Abdur Rahim Quazi Indian politician, MLA from the Baduria.
- ATM Abdullah Indian politician.
South 24 Parganas
- Abul Hasnat, Bengali physician .
- Abdur Razzak Molla, Former Minister for Land and Land Reforms
- Firdousi Begum, First Lady MLA of Sonarpur Uttar
Howrah
- Azangachhi Shaheb, Indian Sufi saint.
- Afsar Amed, Writer
- Hannan Mollah, social worker and MLA
Uttar Dinajpur
- Abdul Karim Chowdhury, Bengali Former Politician, Ex Minister for Mass Education Extension and Library Services.
Midanapur
- Ubaidullah Al Ubaidi Suhrawardy, Bengali Educationist.
- Khujista Akhtar Banu, writer, social reformer.
- Begum Badar un nissa Akhtar, Indian social reformer.
- Zahid Suhrawardy, jurist and lawyer.
- Hasan Shaheed Suhrawardy, Translator, art critic, Diplomat.
- Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Prime minister of Bengal.
Cooch Behar
- Abbasuddin Ahmed, Folk singer and Composer.
- Ferdausi Rahman, Folk singer
- Hussain Muhammad Ershad, military officer and politician who served as President of Bangladesh.
Jalpaiguri
- Khaleda Zia, politician who served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Nadia
- Mohammad Mozammel Huq, Poet, novelist
- I'tisam-ud-Din, linguistic, Munshi in Mughal period.
- Azizunnessa Khatun, a Bengali poet, writer, and philanthropist.
- Nurun Nahar Faizannesa, Feminist.
See also
References
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