The Identity Of Muslims In Bengal, India

The Bengal Muslims 1947—2007, A Quest For Identity

Origin of the Research Problem:
An unusual but reliable source such as Puthi, Gaan etc reflected the mindset of rural Muslims and the absence of mass awareness among the Muslims of Bengal. In tracing the origin of separatism in a key area to its social and cultural root, our raises doubts about the validity of any simply explanation that emphasizes either the historical conflict between Hindu and Muslim or the doctrine of divide and rule, or the central role of constitutional initiatives. Rather we should develop a central thesis that for the Muslim masses, the reformist appeal proves a source of strength as well as of weakness: it roused them to action but made them susceptible to communal propaganda. The anxiety to acquire an identity, especially 9/11, based almost exclusively on religion induced a short-lived union with Bengal Muslims. But, this union may be disrupted by a violent assertion of regional identity.

Interdisciplinary relevance :
Caste, religion and regional/linguistic differentials in economic, social and political spheres in India have a historical basis and are deeply influenced by the extant socioeconomic relationships. Muslim men donning a beard and a topi are often picked up for interrogation from public spaces like parks, railway stations and markets. Some women who interacted with the government officials informed how in the corporate offices hijab wearing Muslim women were finding it increasingly difficult to find jobs. Muslim women in burkha complain of impolite treatment in the market, in hospitals, in schools, in accessing public facilities such as public transport and so on
Significance of the study: The Indian Constitution is committed to the equality of citizens and the responsibility of the State to preserve, protect and assure the rights of minorities in matters of language, religion and culture. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities says that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to such minorities contribute to the political and social stability of the countries in which they live. These factors are major determinants for stability and peace. In any country, the faith and confidence of the minorities in the functioning of the State in an impartial manner is an acid test of its being a just State. As the processes of economic development unfold, pressures are likely to build up and intensify when there is unequal development and some groups or minorities lag behind in the development process. Ideally, development processes should remove or reduce economic and social obstacles to cooperation and mutual respect among all groups in the country. Since Independence, India has achieved significant growth and development. It has also been successful in reducing poverty and improving crucial human development indicators such as levels of literacy, education and health. Among these, the Muslims, the largest minority community in the country, constituting 13.4 per cent of the population, 26 per cent in Bengal are seriously lagging behind in terms of most of the human development indicators. The current effort is the first of its kind to undertake a data-based research on the Muslims in Bengal which is governed by a Communist party.
Objectives: Our main objective is to find out all these social and religious transformations through Bengali literature and mythology of Bengal Muslims to depict their social, economic and educational scenario.

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