Assam is one of the most beautiful states of our country with blue hills,green valleys and the majestic river Brahmaputra.It stands virtually unrivalled in respect of the variety of her natural resources and the diversity of population.
 

Assam is one of the most beautiful states of our country with blue hills,green valleys and the majestic river Brahmaputra.It stands virtually unrivalled in respect of the variety of her natural resources and the diversity of population.
 

1.Who are Mia Muslim:-
Muslims of Assam,especially Bengali Muslims have been largely engaged in the agriculture growth of Assam from the very beginning and are still contributing to the largest quantity of agriculture products such as rice,wheat and tea. Muslim settlement in Assam can be traced as far back as 1206 A.D when the Turks were defeated in their attack on Kamrup.In 1257 A.D Tugril Khan attacked Kamrup but failed to win it.He built first mosque in Assam in North Kamrup.In 1448 A.D Nawab Hussain Shah of Gaur succeeded in capturing Komalpur and appointed his son the administrator.During Mughal attacks Muslim population rose in Assam.The immigration of Muslims from other regions especially Bengal has taken place over a long period of time. As early as in 1874 A.D Lord Northbrook was approached by about one hundred signatories belonging to the Assamese middle class desiring an increase of the population of Assam by importing people from outside.

2.Why Mia Muslim in Assam:-
By all accounts,one can see that Muslims have been living in Assam for a very long time.Their contribution to the economy of Assam has been tremendous and it will not be right to dub such people as"foreigners".The contribution of the immigrant Muslims has been acknowledged by all open minded people of Assam.Muslims have been made the largest single contribution towards the economic advancement of the state but they have never received a fair deal either from the government or from Assamese society and are looked down upon when they speak Bengali.(Dev. B.J and D.K Lahiri,Muslims of Assam: Politics and Cohesion,p.18).

3.What History says about Mia Muslim:-
Through the election process,Muslims took an interest in politics and tried to participate in the political life of Assam with full confidence.In the first Congress coalition government in the state,formed in September 1938,Gopinath Bardoloi had included three Muslims in the ministry.In 1946,Bardoloi had two Muslims in his ministry.All the subsequent Congress ministries had sound Muslim representation.In this way the second biggest majority,has always been in the government machinery getting their representation from different political parties.It was not possible for any government of Assam to ignore them.

4.Assam agitation & Mia Muslim:-
There was great turmoil in Assam in the early eighties.The agitation which was launched against the so-called foreigners had reached its peak.Late Prime Minister Mrs.Indira Gandhi had a spate of meetings with the leaders of All Assam Student Union(AASU).Security of Muslims was in her mind and she wished to see that they live in Assam peacefully.After the death of Mrs Gandhi,the next Prime Minister,Rajiv Gandhi entered into an agreement with the AASU.Assam accord resulted in the end of the prolonged agitation of the AASU.

5.Present status of Mia Muslim:-
Since the very beginning,Muslims in Assam supported Congress party as it was the only secular political party of national importance. On October 2,2005,the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,Maulana Badruddin Ajmal al Qasmi founded a new political party,the Assam United Democratic Front.In the April-May assembly elections of Assam,AUDF won ten seats but in the process.In several other constituencies AUDF failed to win but facilitated victory of right wing parties due to division of the Muslim votes.Emotional politics of Badruddin Ajmal sidelined mainstream politics of the Muslims of Assam.It has become a fashion to float small parties.Some desire fame while some are result of rebellion in other national parties.All these Muslims including Badruddin Ajmal dream about changing the society in one night.Candidates of these tiny political parties hope of victory in the elections but end up only cutting the votes of secular parties like Congress.There are also some who float parties just for creating nuisance normally backed by communal elements whose only aim is to divide Muslim votes.Such ulterior motives should be understood by the community.