Bihari Muslims Explained

Group:Bihari Muslims
Region1: India (Bihar only)
Pop1:23,138,379[1] [2]
Ref1:[3] [4]
Region2: Pakistan
Pop2:1,000,000
Ref2:[5]
Region3: Bangladesh
Pop3:400,000
Ref3:[6]
Langs:Urdu, various Bihari languages[7]
Rels: Islam
(Sunni majority, Shia minority)
Related:Other Biharis

Bihari Muslims are adherents of Islam who identify linguistically, culturally, and genealogically as Biharis. They are geographically native to the region comprising the Bihar state of India, although there are significantly large communities of Bihari Muslims living elsewhere in the subcontinent due to the Partition of British India in 1947, which prompted the community to migrate en masse from Bihar to the dominion of Pakistan (both West Pakistan and East Pakistan).[8] [9]

Bihari Muslims make up a significant minority in Pakistan under the diverse community of Muhajirs, and largely began arriving in the country following the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which led to the secession of East Pakistan from the Pakistani union as the independent state of Bangladesh. Since 1971, Bihari Muslims residing in Bangladesh are widely referred to as Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh who are awaiting repatriation to Pakistan, Also 500k Biharis got killed by Bengalis during 1971 War. [10] [11] and have faced heightened persecution in 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 the Sunni branch of Islam and the adoption of the religion by Biharis traces back to the 14th century, when Afghan traders and Sufi missionaries began to arrive in the region a century prior to the Mughal Empire's conquest of the subcontinent.[16] There are also a significant minority of Biharis who adhere to the Shia branch of Islam, largely residing in Patna and Gopalpur in Siwan, tracing their religious descent to Shia Muslim settlers of distant Persian ancestry from Lucknow in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, who arrived in the region during the 19th century.[17]

History

The large-scale arrival of Muslims in Bihar began in the 14th century, when Turk traders and Sufi saints-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 in Bihar Sharif tell of a Sufi warrior by the name of Malik Ibrahim Bayu who came to Bihar and defeated the non-Hindu Kol tribe who had been oppressing the local Muslims. He conquered many Kol chiefdoms.[18]

Some of the kings and chieftains of medieval Bihar were Muslim. The chieftaincy of Kharagpur Raj in modern-day Munger district was originally controlled by Hindu Rajputs. In 1615 after a failed rebellion by Raja Sangram Singh, his son, Toral Mal converted and he changed his name to Roz Afzun.[19]

The Faujdars of Purnea (also known as the Nawabs of 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 of Nepal.[20]

Many Bihari Muslims migrated to West Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after the partition of India in 1947.[9] [21]

Distribution by district

The following table shows the Muslim population of Bihar by district:[22]

NumberDistrictPopulation (2001)Muslim populationPercentage
1 Kishanganj1,796,3481,123,456 68%
2Katihar2,392,638 1,024,678 43%
3 Araria2,158,608 887,97242%
4 Purnia2,543,942 935,239 38%
5Darbhanga3,295,789 748,971 23%
6 Sitamarhi2,682,720 568,99221%
7 West Champaran3,043,466 646,597 21%
8 East Champaran3,939,773755,005 19%
9 Bhagalpur2,423,172 423,246 18%
10 Madhubani3,575,281 941,57918%
11 Siwan2,714,349 494,176 18%
12 Gopalganj2,152,638367,219 17%
13 Supaul1,732,578 302,120 17%
14 Sheohar515,961 80,076 16%
15 Muzaffarpur4,746,714 752,358 15%
16 Saharsa1,508,182 217,922 14%
17 Begusarai2,349,366 313,71313%
18 Banka1,608,773 190,051 12%
19 Gaya3,473,428 403,439 13%
20 Jamui1,398,796 170,334 12%
21 Nawada1,809,696 204,457 11%
22 Madhepura1,526,646 173,605 11%
23 Aurangabad2,013,055 221,436 11%
24 Kaimur1,289,074 123,048 10%
25 Khagaria1,280,354131,441 10%
26Rohtas2,450,748 246,760 10%
27 Samastipur3,394,793 355,897 10%
28 Saran3,248,701337,767 10%
29 Vaishali2,718,421 259,158 10%
30 Jehanabad1,514,315 124,149 8%
31 Munger1,337,797 98,791 7.4%
32 Patna4,718,592 366,1648%
33 Bhojpur2,243,144163,193 7%
34 Nalanda2,370,528 176,871 7%
35 Sheikhpura525,502 37,755 7%
37 Buxar1,402,39686,382 6%
38 Lakhisarai802,225 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.

Kishanganj is the only district in Bihar with a Muslim majority.

Muslim communities

In common with the rest of India, the Muslims in Bihar are largely descendants of native converts from various castes.[24] The rise of the Indian Muslim population can be traced back to the early 12th century, with many conversions to Islam taking place during the rule of the Sur Empire, which had established its capital in Sasaram.[25]

Statistics

As per the 2022 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
ShaikhGeneral49958973.821675389
Momin (Muslim) (Julaha/Ansari)EBC46342453.545025061
Surjapuri Muslim (except Sheikh, Syed, Mallick, Mughal, Pathan) (Only for Purnea, Katihar, Kishangunj & Araria District)BC24462121.871261196
Dhuniya (Muslim)EBC18881921.444396651
Rayeen or Kunjra (Muslim)EBC18285841.398798748
ShershahbadiEBC13026440.99647421
KulhaiyaEBC12537810.959095832
Pathan (Khan)General9866650.754762027
Sai/Faqeer/Diwan/Madar (Muslim)EBC6631970.507321038
Dhobi (Muslim)EBC4097960.313478698
Idrisi or Sarzi (Muslim)EBC3296610.252178404
SyedGeneral2979750.227939792
Chudihar (Muslim)EBC2079140.159046477
Thakurai (Muslim)EBC1474820.112818245
Qasab (Qasai) (Muslim)EBC1338070.102357378
Mallick (Muslim)BC1116550.085411922
Bhat (Muslim)BC890520.068121468
Madariya (Muslim) (Only for Sanhaul block of Bhagalpur and Dhoriya block of Banka)BC866580.066290147
Daphali (Muslim)EBC732590.05604041
Mehtar, Lalbegi, Halalkhor, Bhangi (Muslim)EBC699140.05348161
MorshikarEBC666070.050951878
Pamaria (Muslim)EBC648900.049638437
Nat (Muslim)EBC616290.047143893
GaddiBC576170.044074862
Mukairi (Muslim)EBC565220.043237228
Cheeq (Muslim)EBC504040.038557185
Jat (Muslim (Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamadhi, Khagaria & Araria)BC449490.034384313
Rangrez (Muslim)EBC433470.033158843
Bakho (Muslim)EBC368300.02817358
Bhathiyara (Muslim)EBC272630.020855181
Saikalgarg (Muslim)EBC189360.014485336
QadarEBC181210.013861891
Miriyasin (Muslim)EBC154150.011791902
Nalband (Muslim)EBC119000.009103057
Madari (Muslim)EBC116200.008888868
AbdalEBC114330.00874582
Itfarosh/Itafarosh/Gadheri/Itpaz Ibrahimi (Muslim)EBC94620.007238078
QalandarEBC78730.006022552
QaghziBC23600.001805312
The Iraqi/Kalal was counted as a subset of Bania caste. Prominent members of the Kalal community had protested against the state government and demanded a separate categorization.

Notable Bihari Muslims

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joy . Shemin . Caste survey in Bihar: OBCs, EBCs make up 63.13% of population; Gen Category 15.52% . Deccan Herald . en.
  2. Web site: Bihar Caste Census Population, Religion-wise Population & more . RajNeetPG . 3 October 2023.
  3. News: India's religions by numbers. 2015-08-26. The Hindu. 2020-01-04. en-IN. 0971-751X.
  4. Web site: Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. censusindia.gov.in. 2020-01-04.
  5. Web site: Arshad. Sameer. Will Nitish's visit boost Biharis in Pakistan?. 5 November 2012. 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..
  6. Web site: The neglected 'Bihari' community in Bangladesh. 14 January 2019. Deutsche Welle. According to local NGOs working for Bihari welfare, around 400,000 members of the community live in camps in Bangladesh..
  7. News: Case of Bhojpuri and Hindi in Mauritius. lexpress.mu. 27 July 2007. 26 September 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160927140853/http://www.lexpress.mu/article/case-bhojpuri-and-hindi-mauritius. 27 September 2016. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Khan. Engr Imtiaz Alam. 2019-12-15. HISTORY: THE FALL OF DHAKA FROM BIHARI EYES. 2021-05-04. DAWN.COM. en.
  9. Book: Sajjad . Mohammad . Muslim Politics in Bihar: Changing Contours . 13 August 2014 . Routledge . 978-1-317-55981-8 . en . 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 the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam began 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'..
  10. Web site: In Pictures: Plight of Biharis in Bangladesh. 2021-05-04. www.aljazeera.com. en.
  11. Web site: Zakaria. Anam. Remembering the war of 1971 in East Pakistan. 2021-05-04. www.aljazeera.com. en.
  12. Book: 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. U.S. Department of State. 1998. United States. 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..
  13. News: Times. Kasturi Rangan Special to The New York. 1971-12-22. Bengalis Hunt Down Biharis, Who Aided Foe. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-05-04. 0362-4331.
  14. Web site: Biharis. 2021-05-04. Minority Rights Group. 19 June 2015. en-GB.
  15. Web site: Jacob. Frank. 2019. Genocide and Mass Violence in Asia – Bangladesh. live. 4 May 2021. OAPEN Online Library and Publication Platform. https://web.archive.org/web/20210504235924/https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/37dd3ed8-2728-428e-a188-2945d2bb8e0c/1006594.pdf . 4 May 2021 .
  16. Web site: Bihar. Ram Chandra. Prasad. 7 November 1983. National Book Trust, India. Google Books.
  17. Book: Chaturvedi, Ritu. Bihar Through the Ages. 7 November 2018. Sarup & Sons. Google Books. 9788176257985.
  18. Book: Gyan Prakash. Bonded Histories: Genealogies of Labor Servitude in Colonial India. 30 October 2003. Cambridge University Press. 978-0-521-52658-6. 63–65.
  19. Tahawar Singh-A Muslim Raja of Kharagpur Raj (1676 - 1727) . Yogendra P. Roy . Proceedings of the Indian History Congress . 53. 1992 . 333–334. 44142804.
  20. Book: P. J. Marshall. Bengal: The British Bridgehead: Eastern India 1740-1828. 2 November 2006. Cambridge University Press. 978-0-521-02822-6. 50.
  21. Book: Ghosh, Partha S.. Migrants, Refugees and the Stateless in South Asia. 23 May 2016. SAGE Publishing India. Google Books. 9789351508533.
  22. Web site: Error Value. www.censusindia.gov.in. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160408124158/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/errorStatus.htm?aspxerrorpath=%2FCensus_Data_2001%2FCensus_Data_Online%2FCensusDataOnline_Login.aspx. 8 April 2016. dmy-all. 11 May 2018.
  23. News: Bihar elections among factors in religious data of Census 2011 release. Vijaita. Singh. 25 August 2015. www.thehindu.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230200448/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bihar-elections-among-factors-in-religious-data-of-census-2011-release/article7579546.ece. 30 December 2017. dmy-all. The Hindu.
  24. Web site: Bihar Information. 7 November 1984. Director, Public Relations. Google Books.
  25. Book: Alam, Mohd Sanjeer. Religion, Community, and Education: The Case of Rural Bihar. 27 January 2012. Oxford University Press. Google Books. 9780199088652.

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