Bihari Muslims
Total population | |
---|---|
c. 24,538,379 Million | |
Regions with significant populations | |
India(Biharonly) | 23,138,379[1][2][3][4] |
Pakistan | 1,000,000[5] |
Bangladesh | 400,000[6] |
Languages | |
Urdu,variousBihari languages[7] | |
Religion | |
Islam (Sunnimajority,Shiaminority) | |
Related ethnic groups | |
OtherBiharis |
Bihari Muslimsare adherents ofIslamwho identifylinguistically,culturally,andgenealogicallyasBiharis.They are geographically native to the region comprising theBiharstate ofIndia,although there are significantly large communities of Bihari Muslims living elsewhere inthe subcontinentdue to thePartition of British Indiain 1947, which prompted the community to migrate en masse from Bihar to thedominion of Pakistan(bothWest PakistanandEast Pakistan).[8][9]
Bihari Muslims make up a significant minority inPakistanunder the diverse community ofMuhajirs(lit. 'migrants'), and largely began arriving in the country following theBangladesh Liberation Warof 1971, which led to the secession of East Pakistan from the Pakistani union as the independent state ofBangladesh.Since 1971, Bihari Muslims residing in Bangladesh are widely referred to asStranded Pakistanis in Bangladeshwho are awaiting repatriation to Pakistan, Also 500k Biharis got killed by Bengalis during 1971 War.[10][11]and havefaced heightened persecutionin the country due to their support for Pakistan during Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence.[12][13][14][15]
The majority of Bihari Muslims adhere to theSunnibranch of Islam and the adoption of the religion by Biharis traces back to the 14th century, whenAfghantraders andSufimissionaries began to arrive in the region a century prior to theMughal Empire's conquest of the subcontinent.[16]There are also a significant minority of Biharis who adhere to theShiabranch of Islam, largely residing inPatnaand Gopalpur in Siwan, tracing their religious descent to Shia Muslim settlers ofdistant Persian ancestryfromLucknowin neighbouringUttar Pradesh,who arrived in the region during the 19th century.[17]
History
[edit]The large-scale arrival of Muslims in Bihar began in the 14th century, whenTurktraders andSufisaints-warriors settled in the South Bihar plains and furthered the process of agricultural colonisation while also spreading Islam among the local populace. Muslims were not the only new immigrants to Bihar during this period. Inscriptions inBihar Shariftell of a Sufi warrior by the name ofMalik Ibrahim Bayuwho came to Bihar and defeated the non-HinduKoltribe who had been oppressing the localMuslims.He conquered many Kol chiefdoms.[18]
Some of the kings and chieftains of medieval Bihar were Muslim. The chieftaincy ofKharagpur Rajin modern-dayMunger districtwas originally controlled by HinduRajputs.In 1615 after a failed rebellion by Raja Sangram Singh, his son, Toral Mal converted and he changed his name to Roz Afzun.[19]
TheFaujdars of Purnea(also known as theNawabsof Purnea) created an autonomous territory for themselves under the leadership of Saif Khan and ruled in parts of Eastern Bihar in the early 1700s. They were engaged in a protracted conflict with the neighbouring Kingdom ofNepal.[20]
Many Bihari Muslims migrated toWest PakistanandEast Pakistan(now Bangladesh) after thepartition of Indiain 1947.[9][21]
Distribution by district
[edit]The following table shows the Muslim population of Bihar by district:[22]
Number | District | Population (2001) | Muslim population | Percentage |
1 | Kishanganj | 1,796,348 | 1,123,456 | 68% |
2 | Katihar | 2,392,638 | 1,024,678 | 43% |
3 | Araria | 2,158,608 | 887,972 | 42% |
4 | Purnia | 2,543,942 | 935,239 | 38% |
5 | Darbhanga | 3,295,789 | 748,971 | 23% |
6 | Sitamarhi | 2,682,720 | 568,992 | 21% |
7 | West Champaran | 3,043,466 | 646,597 | 21% |
8 | East Champaran | 3,939,773 | 755,005 | 19% |
9 | Bhagalpur | 2,423,172 | 423,246 | 18% |
10 | Madhubani | 3,575,281 | 941,579 | 18% |
11 | Siwan | 2,714,349 | 494,176 | 18% |
12 | Gopalganj | 2,152,638 | 367,219 | 17% |
13 | Supaul | 1,732,578 | 302,120 | 17% |
14 | Sheohar | 515,961 | 80,076 | 16% |
15 | Muzaffarpur | 4,746,714 | 752,358 | 15% |
16 | Saharsa | 1,508,182 | 217,922 | 14% |
17 | Begusarai | 2,349,366 | 313,713 | 13% |
18 | Banka | 1,608,773 | 190,051 | 12% |
19 | Gaya | 3,473,428 | 403,439 | 13% |
20 | Jamui | 1,398,796 | 170,334 | 12% |
21 | Nawada | 1,809,696 | 204,457 | 11% |
22 | Madhepura | 1,526,646 | 173,605 | 11% |
23 | Aurangabad | 2,013,055 | 221,436 | 11% |
24 | Kaimur | 1,289,074 | 123,048 | 10% |
25 | Khagaria | 1,280,354 | 131,441 | 10% |
26 | Rohtas | 2,450,748 | 246,760 | 10% |
27 | Samastipur | 3,394,793 | 355,897 | 10% |
28 | Saran | 3,248,701 | 337,767 | 10% |
29 | Vaishali | 2,718,421 | 259,158 | 10% |
30 | Jehanabad | 1,514,315 | 124,149 | 8% |
31 | Munger | 1,337,797 | 98,791 | 7.4% |
32 | Patna | 4,718,592 | 366,164 | 8% |
33 | Bhojpur | 2,243,144 | 163,193 | 7% |
34 | Nalanda | 2,370,528 | 176,871 | 7% |
35 | Sheikhpura | 525,502 | 37,755 | 7% |
37 | Buxar | 1,402,396 | 86,382 | 6% |
38 | Lakhisarai | 802,225 | 35,378 | 4% |
Sum total of this table is 14,780,500 Muslims out of 83.0 million total population in 2001 census, hence Muslims were 16.5% of total population in Bihar. In 2011 census, total population grew to 103.9985 million, of which 16.9% or 17,557,809 were Muslims.[23]During 2001–2011, Muslims grew by 33.433%, while non-Muslims grew by 23.537%. District-wise break up by religions for 2011 is not available.
Kishanganjis the only district in Bihar with aMuslimmajority.
Muslim communities
[edit]- MALLICKS or Malik of Bihar
- Julahas (Momin) or Ansari
- Sheikh of Bihar
- Surjapuri (Bhuiyan)
- Dhuniya
- Rayeen orKunjra
- Shershahabadia
- MuslimBhumihars
- Pathans of Bihar
- Idrisi or Darzi
- Kulhaiya
- Muslim Kayasths
- Muslim Rajputs
- clan (Bihar)
- Abdal
- Muslim Chhipi
- Lal Begior Lala Baig
- Turuk Pasi/Pashai
- Sayyid/Syed
- Chik
- Sai
- Muslim Rangrez
- Pamaria/Sheikh Abbasi
- Iraqi/Kalal
- Miyan
In common with the rest ofIndia,theMuslimsinBiharare largely descendants of native converts from variouscastes.[24]The rise of theIndian Muslimpopulation can be traced back to the early 12th century, with manyconversions to Islamtaking place during the rule of theSur Empire,which had established its capital inSasaram.[25]
Statistics
[edit]As per the2022 Bihar caste-based survey,the population of major Muslim castes in Bihar was as follows:
Caste | Categorization | Population | Population as a percentage of total population of Bihar |
---|---|---|---|
Shaikh | General | 4995897 | 3.821675389 |
Momin (Muslim) (Julaha/Ansari) | EBC | 4634245 | 3.545025061 |
Surjapuri Muslim ( except Sheikh, Syed, Mallick, Mughal, Pathan) (Only for Purnea, Katihar, Kishangunj & Araria District) | BC | 2446212 | 1.871261196 |
Dhuniya (Muslim) | EBC | 1888192 | 1.444396651 |
Rayeen or Kunjra (Muslim) | EBC | 1828584 | 1.398798748 |
Shershahbadi | EBC | 1302644 | 0.99647421 |
Kulhaiya | EBC | 1253781 | 0.959095832 |
Pathan (Khan) | General | 986665 | 0.754762027 |
Sai/Faqeer/Diwan/Madar (Muslim) | EBC | 663197 | 0.507321038 |
Dhobi (Muslim) | EBC | 409796 | 0.313478698 |
Idrisi or Sarzi (Muslim) | EBC | 329661 | 0.252178404 |
Syed | General | 297975 | 0.227939792 |
Chudihar (Muslim) | EBC | 207914 | 0.159046477 |
Thakurai (Muslim) | EBC | 147482 | 0.112818245 |
Qasab (Qasai) (Muslim) | EBC | 133807 | 0.102357378 |
Mallick (Muslim) | BC | 111655 | 0.085411922 |
Bhat (Muslim) | BC | 89052 | 0.068121468 |
Madariya (Muslim) (Only for Sanhaul block of Bhagalpur and Dhoriya block of Banka) | BC | 86658 | 0.066290147 |
Daphali (Muslim) | EBC | 73259 | 0.05604041 |
Mehtar, Lalbegi, Halalkhor, Bhangi (Muslim) | EBC | 69914 | 0.05348161 |
Morshikar | EBC | 66607 | 0.050951878 |
Pamaria (Muslim) | EBC | 64890 | 0.049638437 |
Nat (Muslim) | EBC | 61629 | 0.047143893 |
Gaddi | BC | 57617 | 0.044074862 |
Mukairi (Muslim) | EBC | 56522 | 0.043237228 |
Cheeq (Muslim) | EBC | 50404 | 0.038557185 |
Jat (Muslim (Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamadhi, Khagaria & Araria) | BC | 44949 | 0.034384313 |
Rangrez (Muslim) | EBC | 43347 | 0.033158843 |
Bakho (Muslim) | EBC | 36830 | 0.02817358 |
Bhathiyara (Muslim) | EBC | 27263 | 0.020855181 |
Saikalgarg (Muslim) | EBC | 18936 | 0.014485336 |
Qadar | EBC | 18121 | 0.013861891 |
Miriyasin (Muslim) | EBC | 15415 | 0.011791902 |
Nalband (Muslim) | EBC | 11900 | 0.009103057 |
Madari (Muslim) | EBC | 11620 | 0.008888868 |
Abdal | EBC | 11433 | 0.00874582 |
Itfarosh/Itafarosh/Gadheri/Itpaz Ibrahimi (Muslim) | EBC | 9462 | 0.007238078 |
Qalandar | EBC | 7873 | 0.006022552 |
Qaghzi | BC | 2360 | 0.001805312 |
TheIraqi/Kalal was counted as a subset ofBaniacaste. Prominent members of the Kalal community had protested against the state government and demanded a separate categorization.
Notable Bihari Muslims
[edit]- Syed Ali Imam- Prime Minister ofHyderabad Stateand Indian independence activist.
- Khuda Bakhsh- Chief Justice ofHyderabad Stateand founder of theKhuda Bakhsh Oriental Library
- Sheikh Zainuddin- 18th century painter
- Shad Azimabadi- 19th century poet from Patna
- Ali Ibrahim Khan- 18th century statesmen and poet
- Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri- 13th century Sufi mystic
- Maulana Asim Bihari- 20th century Social Activist fromBihar Sharif
- Abdul Qaiyum Ansari- Freedom Fighter, Activist and Politician
References
[edit]- ^Joy, Shemin."Caste survey in Bihar: OBCs, EBCs make up 63.13% of population; Gen Category 15.52%".Deccan Herald.
- ^"Bihar Caste Census Population, Religion-wise Population & more".RajNeetPG.3 October 2023.
- ^"India's religions by numbers".The Hindu.26 August 2015.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved4 January2020.
- ^"Census of India Website: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India".censusindia.gov.in.Retrieved4 January2020.
- ^Arshad, Sameer (5 November 2012)."Will Nitish's visit boost Biharis in Pakistan?".Times Of India.
Abdul Kadir Khanzada, who represents Orangi Town in Pakistan's parliament, said he would like to welcome Nitish to his constituency, where a majority of over a million people have their roots in Bihar.
- ^"The neglected 'Bihari' community in Bangladesh".Deutsche Welle.14 January 2019.
According to local NGOs working for Bihari welfare, around 400,000 members of the community live in camps in Bangladesh.
- ^"Case of Bhojpuri and Hindi in Mauritius".lexpress.mu. 27 July 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 27 September 2016.Retrieved26 September2016.
- ^Khan, Engr Imtiaz Alam (15 December 2019)."HISTORY: THE FALL OF DHAKA FROM BIHARI EYES".DAWN.COM.Retrieved4 May2021.
- ^abSajjad, Mohammad (13 August 2014).Muslim Politics in Bihar: Changing Contours.Routledge.ISBN978-1-317-55981-8.
Others got attracted to the supposedly greener pastures in West Pakistan. Hence, in Karachi, a separate Bihari colony of construction labourers came into existence even before Pakistan was formally created.... Moreover, some of the wealthier Biharis migrated towards West Pakistan. In order to induce further migration, Maulana Abdul Quddus Bihair, Chairman of the Bihar Relief Committee (Karachi) and also of theJamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islambegan propagating that there was a better scheme of land and flats to be given to them in Karachi by January 1947. Quddus presented the province of Sindh as a destination that offered openings for traders, cultivators, labourers, contractors, manufacturers, weavers and professionals, and therefore was the 'best substitute for Bihar'.
- ^"In Pictures: Plight of Biharis in Bangladesh".www.aljazeera.com.Retrieved4 May2021.
- ^Zakaria, Anam."Remembering the war of 1971 in East Pakistan".www.aljazeera.com.Retrieved4 May2021.
- ^Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Report Submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate by the Department of State in Accordance with Sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance 1961, as Amended S. prt.United States:U.S. Department of State.1998. p. 1869.
Approximately 240,000 Bihari Muslims live in various camps around the country; they have remained in the country since 1971 awaiting settlement in Pakistan. Biharis are non-Bengali Muslims who emigrated to what was formerly East Pakistan during the 1947 partition of British India. Most supported Pakistan during Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence. They later declined to accept Bangladesh citizenship and asked to be repatriated to Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan historically has been reluctant to accept the Biharis. During a visit to Dhaka in January, the Pakistani Prime Minister announced that Pakistan would be willing to assist in their repatriation, but no repatriation occurred during that year.
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- ^Yogendra P. Roy (1992). "Tahawar Singh-A Muslim Raja of Kharagpur Raj (1676 - 1727)".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.53:333–334.JSTOR44142804.
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- ^Ghosh, Partha S. (23 May 2016).Migrants, Refugees and the Stateless in South Asia.SAGE Publishing India.ISBN9789351508533– via Google Books.
- ^"Error Value".www.censusindia.gov.in.Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2016.Retrieved11 May2018.
- ^Singh, Vijaita (25 August 2015)."Bihar elections among factors in religious data of Census 2011 release".The Hindu.Archivedfrom the original on 30 December 2017 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^"Bihar Information".Director, Public Relations. 7 November 1984 – via Google Books.
- ^Alam, Mohd Sanjeer (27 January 2012).Religion, Community, and Education: The Case of Rural Bihar.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780199088652– via Google Books.