Assam Muslims: Politics and Cohesion

The book represents a pioneering analysis of the dimensions and potentialities of Muslim politics in Assam. The relevance of the issue has become all the more lively in view of the prolonged agitation on foreigners in Assam. The majority of the Muslims are attached to land a sizeable number having developed into landed aristocracy through their entrepreneurial ability. However, the Muslims of Assam belong to two different streams inheriting divergent cultural inputs and religion, as a factor of social consciousness has not become pronounced as yet. Assam is singularly free from religious fanaticism and social climate in traditionally permeable by secularisation and a feeling of tolerance among the two major religious groups. And still the recent developments have focussed the imperative need of protecting and safeguarding the legitimate interests of the Muslims who too had eagerly displayed their commitment to be partners in the economic prosperity of Assam. Muslims of Assam have produced great leaders in the persons of Sri Saadulla, Maulana Bhasani, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Manipal Haque Chaudhury, Mrs. Anwara Taimur and Golam Osmani and as acommunity they have promises to keep for the betterment of Assam. This penetrating analysis is an invaluable contribution in understanding the political consciousness and involvement of the Muslims of Assam who today find themselves at crossroads and among the vicissitude of political upheaval. They have become the focus of the political turmoil in the North East part of the country and the country is watching with baited breath the ultimate outcome of the burning issues related to the problems of Assam which pose a serious challenge to the ability and acumen of the leaders at the Centre and the State. 

Bimal J Dev. M.A. (Double), L.L.B., Ph.D. and Dilip K. Lahiri M.A., B.Ed., Dip in French and German languages, Ph.D., have outstanding research papers to their credit published in prestigious journals in India and abroad. Their earlier work “Lushai Custom and Ceremonies" and :Cosmogony of Caste and Social Mobility in Assam" published by Mittal Publications, Delhi have been acclaimed and greatly appreciated by the academic community.