08-29-2012, 10:28 AM
Organiser = Total illegals in Assam = 2 million out of 8.2 million
The phenomenon of the immigration of Bengali speaking Muslims into lower Assam is so blatant, large that it is impossible to hide it from the data. The fact stands out conspicuously in all census data since 1901, when the British started deliberately settling Bengali Muslims, especially from the East Bengal district of Mymensingh, in the lower Assam districts of Brahmaputra valley. As a consequence, the proportion of Muslims in Assam rose from 15 per cent in 1901 to 25 per cent in 1951. The number of Muslims in the state in this period rose from less than 5 lakhs in 1901 to nearly 20 lakh in 1951. Population of Hindus in Assam in that period had only doubled, from about 29 lakh to 59 lakh. Even the latter figure is high compared to the average growth of population in India during that period, which indicates some migration of Hindus also.
If during 1901-1951, the Muslims of Assam had grown at the same rate as in the rest of undivided India in this period, than there should have been only about 8 lakh Muslims in Assam in 1951, as against 20 lakh that were counted in the census. These 12 lakh excess Muslims represent the numbers that had entered Assam during 1901-1951 and their descendants. It is claimed that since these persons had come into Assam, when India was still united and therefore are legitimate citizens. This, of course, is true; but the truth is no consolation for the indigenous populations who were forced to share their limited natural resources and space with outsiders brought in or allowed to settle by an alien government. It should be remembered that the incoming Muslims had settled in a small area of Assam. Of about 20 lakh Muslims counted in 1951, 16 lakh were in the then undivided four districts of Goalpara, Kamrup, Darrang and Nagaon. Proportion of Muslims in these four districts together increased from less than 13 per cent in 1901 to nearly 33 per cent in 1951. But the im-migration of Muslims from East Bengal did not stop with Independence and Partition. The number of Muslims in Assam has increased from about 20 lakh in 1951 to 82 lakhs in 2001. Thus their numbers quadrupled in the period from 1901 to 1951, and again from1951 to 2001.
If the Muslims of Assam had grown at the same rate as the average population growth of the country, then there would have been just about 56 lakh Muslims there in 2001 and if they had grown at the much higher rate of Muslims in the country, then also there would have been only about 72 lakh Muslims in Assam. Thus there is a clear jump of at least 10 lakh Muslims and perhaps of around 20 lakh Muslims in Assam, which can be attributed only to infiltration from outside the country. As a consequence, the proportion of Muslims in lower Assam has increased to 40 per cent; their proportion in undivided Goalpara district in 2001 is more than 51 per cent and in Dhubri component of it, it is nearly 75 per cent.
In the last two decades, along with the immigration of Muslims from outside, another factor has begun affecting the religious demography of Assam. The rate of growth of communities other than Muslims and Christians has started falling steeply. In 2001, in at least 6 districts of Assam, Hindus registered a decadal growth of less than 10 per cent, while Muslims and also Christians grew at much higher rates. The table (No.1), giving the data for all component districts of lower Assam tells its own story.
The phenomenon of the immigration of Bengali speaking Muslims into lower Assam is so blatant, large that it is impossible to hide it from the data. The fact stands out conspicuously in all census data since 1901, when the British started deliberately settling Bengali Muslims, especially from the East Bengal district of Mymensingh, in the lower Assam districts of Brahmaputra valley. As a consequence, the proportion of Muslims in Assam rose from 15 per cent in 1901 to 25 per cent in 1951. The number of Muslims in the state in this period rose from less than 5 lakhs in 1901 to nearly 20 lakh in 1951. Population of Hindus in Assam in that period had only doubled, from about 29 lakh to 59 lakh. Even the latter figure is high compared to the average growth of population in India during that period, which indicates some migration of Hindus also.
If during 1901-1951, the Muslims of Assam had grown at the same rate as in the rest of undivided India in this period, than there should have been only about 8 lakh Muslims in Assam in 1951, as against 20 lakh that were counted in the census. These 12 lakh excess Muslims represent the numbers that had entered Assam during 1901-1951 and their descendants. It is claimed that since these persons had come into Assam, when India was still united and therefore are legitimate citizens. This, of course, is true; but the truth is no consolation for the indigenous populations who were forced to share their limited natural resources and space with outsiders brought in or allowed to settle by an alien government. It should be remembered that the incoming Muslims had settled in a small area of Assam. Of about 20 lakh Muslims counted in 1951, 16 lakh were in the then undivided four districts of Goalpara, Kamrup, Darrang and Nagaon. Proportion of Muslims in these four districts together increased from less than 13 per cent in 1901 to nearly 33 per cent in 1951. But the im-migration of Muslims from East Bengal did not stop with Independence and Partition. The number of Muslims in Assam has increased from about 20 lakh in 1951 to 82 lakhs in 2001. Thus their numbers quadrupled in the period from 1901 to 1951, and again from1951 to 2001.
If the Muslims of Assam had grown at the same rate as the average population growth of the country, then there would have been just about 56 lakh Muslims there in 2001 and if they had grown at the much higher rate of Muslims in the country, then also there would have been only about 72 lakh Muslims in Assam. Thus there is a clear jump of at least 10 lakh Muslims and perhaps of around 20 lakh Muslims in Assam, which can be attributed only to infiltration from outside the country. As a consequence, the proportion of Muslims in lower Assam has increased to 40 per cent; their proportion in undivided Goalpara district in 2001 is more than 51 per cent and in Dhubri component of it, it is nearly 75 per cent.
In the last two decades, along with the immigration of Muslims from outside, another factor has begun affecting the religious demography of Assam. The rate of growth of communities other than Muslims and Christians has started falling steeply. In 2001, in at least 6 districts of Assam, Hindus registered a decadal growth of less than 10 per cent, while Muslims and also Christians grew at much higher rates. The table (No.1), giving the data for all component districts of lower Assam tells its own story.