GetWiki

{{Short description|none}} {{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}{{use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}

factoids

HTTPS://WWW.INDIAONLINEPAGES.COM/POPULATION/WEST-BENGAL-POPULATION.HTMLWEBSITE=TIMES OF INDIACensus of India - Religious CompositionMurshidabad district>Murshidabad (66.3%), Maldah district (51.3%), Uttar Dinajpur district>Uttar Dinajpur (50%).Significant minority in Birbhum (37.1%), South 24 Parganas (35.6%), Howrah (26.20%).Bengali language>Bengali, Minority Urdu, Surjapuri, and others| native_name = | native_name_lang = | religions = | related_groups = | rawimage = }}{{Islam}}(File:Zohora Begum Mosque 4.JPG|thumb|right|Zohora Begum Mosque in Kolkata)According to the 2011 census, West Bengal has over 24.6 million Muslims, making up 27% of the state’s population.WEB,www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/why-the-30-muslim-vote-share-is-crucial-in-bengal-explains-robin-roy, Why the 30% Muslim vote share is crucial in Bengal, explains Robin Roy, The vast majority of Muslims in West Bengal are ethnic native Bengali Muslims, numbering around over 22 million and comprising 24.1% of the state population (mostly they reside in Rural areas). There also exists an Immigrants Urdu-speaking Muslim community numbering 2.6 million, constituting 2.9% of the state population and mostly resides in Urban areas of the state.MAGAZINE, Jayanta Ghosal, April 21, 2021, Decoding the Muslim vote in West Bengal,www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/decoding-the-muslim-vote-in-west-bengal-1792723-2021-04-19, 2022-01-22, India Today, en, NEWS,www.livemint.com/Politics/XkVYBX2IaBk5Sqf8yr2XMM/Hindu-population-declined-Muslims-increasedRm misu-2011-census.html, Census 2011 shows Islam is the fastest growing religion in India, 26 August 2015, Mint, Muslims form the majority of the population in three districts: Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur.NEWS,timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bengal-beats-India-in-Muslim-growth-rate/articleshow/48675987.cms, Bengal beats India in Muslim growth rate, Saibal Sen, 26 August 2015, Among these, Uttar Dinajpur is notable as ethnic Bengali Muslims comprise 28% of the district’s population, with the remaining 22% being Urdu and Surjapuri speakers.WEB, hajarduar, 2013-10-22, The curious case of the Surjapuri people,alalodulal.org/2013/10/22/the-curious-case-of-the-surjapuri-people/, 2022-01-22, আলাল ও দুলাল {{!, ALAL O DULAL|language=en}}

History

{{See also|Bengal Sultanate}}{{See also|Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad}}(File:Zafar Khan Ghazi Mosque And Dargah at Tribeni in West Bengal.jpg|thumb|The Gazi Dargah (গাজী দরগা) of Tribeni (ত্রিবেনী) in West Bengal. This is one of the oldest Islamic heritage structures of Bengal)Islam first arrived in Bengal in the year 1204pu.edu.pk › historyPDFthe diffusion of islam in bengal - Punjab University The establishment of the first Muslim state in Bengal, the Bengal Sultanate, in 1352 by Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah is credited to giving rise to a Bengali socio-linguistic identity.BANGLAPEDIA, Iliyas Shah, Ahmed, ABM Shamsuddin, The Sultanate’s influence was expansive, with the Hindu-born sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah funding the construction of Islamic institutions as far as Makkah Al Mukarramah and Madinah Al Munawwarah, which came to be known as al-Madaris al-Banjaliyyah (Bengali madrasas). Sufis also became prominent in this period, such as Usman Serajuddin, also known as Akhi Siraj Bengali, who was a native of Gaur in western Bengal and became the Sultanate’s court scholar during Ilyas Shah’s reign.BOOK, ’Abd al-Haqq al-Dehlawi, Akhbarul Akhyar, BANGLAPEDIA, Shaikh Akhi Sirajuddin Usman (R), Abdul Karim, BOOK, Hanif, N, Biographical Encyclopaedia of Sufis: South Asia, Prabhat Kumar Sharma, for Sarup & Sons, 2000, 35, Alongside Persian and Arabic, the Sultanate also used the Bengali language to gain patronage and support, contrary to previous states which exclusively favored liturgical languages such as Sanskrit and Pali.“What is more significant, a contemporary Chinese traveler reported that although Persian was understood by some in the court, the language in universal use there was Bengali. This points to the waning, although certainly not yet the disappearance, of the sort of cosmopolitan mentality that the Muslim ruling class in Bengal had exhibited since its arrival over two centuries earlier. It also points to the survival and eventual dominance of parochial Bengali culture at the highest level of official society.” {{harvcol|Eaton|1993|p=60}}BOOK, Eaton, Richard M., 1993, The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204–1760,archive.org/details/riseofislambenga00eato, University of California, 978-0-520-20507-9, 13 July 2017, registration, JOURNAL, Rabbani, AKM Golam, 7 November 2017, Politics and Literary Activities in the Bengali Language during the Independent Sultanate of Bengal,www.banglajol.info/index.php/DUJL/article/view/3344, live, Dhaka University Journal of Linguistics, 1, 1, 151–166,web.archive.org/web/20171011123110/https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/DUJL/article/view/3344, 11 October 2017, 7 November 2017, www.banglajol.info, Islam became especially widespread when the region was under Mughal rule from 1576 to 1765 and was commonly known as Bengal Subah.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} The Mughal Emperors considered Bengal their most prized province. The Mughal emperor Akbar is credited with developing the modern Bengali calendar.WEB, Shoaib Daniyal,scroll.in/article/720351/bengali-new-year-how-akbar-invented-the-modern-bengali-calendar, Bengali New Year: how Akbar invented the modern Bengali calendar, Scroll.in, 15 April 2015, 7 November 2016, File:Bengal Sultanate.png|thumb|upright=1.3|The Bengal SultanateBengal Sultanate

Population

{{Historical populations|title = Historical Muslim Population|type = |footnote = |align = right|width = |state = |shading = |pop_name = |percentages = AUTHOR=NAHID KAMAL, 3,954,776 2,955,098 4,101,516 4,521,313 5,506,442 5,102,330 6,915,348 9,083,963 11,743,209 16,050,000 20,240,543 24,654,825}}As per as Indian Census figures, The Muslim population have increased from (5.1 million) 20 per cent in 1951 to (24.6 million) 27 per cent in 2011 (a growth of 19.5 million in absolute numbers and an increasement of 7 per cent points from last 6 decades) respectivelywww.outlookindia.com/national/politicising-demography-magazine-284973

Partition and immigration

{{See also|Partition of Bengal (1947)}}The Muslim population in West Bengal before 1947 partition was around 33%.NEWS, Muslims of West Bengal,core.ac.uk/download/pdf/144521229.pdf, 16 March 2021, core.ac.uk, After partition of Bengal in 1947, some Muslims from West Bengal left for East Pakistan, (Present-Day-Bangladesh). Estimates show that 1,634,718 Muslim refugees from West Bengal settling permanently in East Pakistan during 1947–1951.BOOK, Chatterji, Joya, 2007, The Spoils of Partition: Bengal and India, 1947–1967,books.google.com/books?id=FjQ0iWSq2R0C, Cambridge University Press, 978-1-139-46830-5,

Population by district (2011)

(File:Percentage of Muslim population in West Bengal.svg|thumb|Percentage share of Muslims in the districts of West Bengal, 2011 Census){| class=“wikitable sortable“|+ Muslims in West Bengal by district (2011)Population by religious community: West Bengal. 2011 Census of India.! # || District || Total population || Muslim population || %Murshidabad district>Murshidabad 7,103,807 4,707,573 style="background: darkgreen” |66.88%South 24 Parganas district>South 24 Parganas 8,161,961 2,903,075 style="background: lightgreen |35.57%North 24 Parganas district>North 24 Parganas 10,009,781 2,584,684 25.82%Malda district>Malda 3,988,845 2,045,151 style="background: darkgreen” |51.27%Bardhaman district>Bardhaman 7,717,563 1,599,764 20.73%Uttar Dinajpur district>Uttar Dinajpur 3,007,134 1,501,170 style="background: lightgreen |49.92%Nadia district>Nadia 5,167,600 1,382,682 26.76%Birbhum district>Birbhum 3,502,404 1,298,054 style="background: lightgreen |37.06%Howrah district>Howrah 4,850,029 1,270,641 26.20%Kolkata district>Kolkata 4,496,694 926,414 20.60%Hooghly district>Hooghly 5,519,145 870,204 15.77%Purba Medinipur district>Purba Medinipur 5,095,875 743,436 14.59%Cooch Behar district>Cooch Behar 2,819,086 720,033 26.54%Paschim Medinipur district>Paschim Medinipur 5,913,457 620,554 10.49%Jalpaiguri district>Jalpaiguri 3,872,846 445,817 11.51%Dakshin Dinajpur district>Dakshin Dinajpur 1,676,276 412,788 24.63%Bankura district>Bankura 3,596,674 290,450 8.08%Purulia district>Purulia 2,930,115 227,249 7.76%Darjeeling district>Darjeeling 1,846,823 105,086 5.69%

Linguistic groups

According to the 2021 census estimation, there were around 30 million Muslims living in West Bengal, constituting 28.9% respectively.WEB,www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20210125-mamata-s-muslim-gameplan-1759579-2021-01-17, Mamata’s Muslim Gameplan, Nearly most of them (26% of state population), about 27 million are native Bengali Muslims, constituting around 90% of the total Muslim population in the state, and are mostly concentrated in rural and Semi Urban areas. The Urdu-speaking Muslims from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh constitute rest 2.9%, numbering around 3 million and are mainly concentrated in Kolkata, Asansol, Islampur subdivision of West Bengal.NEWS,timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/owaisis-entry-into-bengal-likely-to-unsettle-tmcs-sway-over-minorities/articleshow/79206288.cms, Owaisi’s entry into Bengal likely to unsettle TMC’s sway over minorities | India News - Times of India, The Times of India, 13 November 2020, NEWS,timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/west-bengal-elections-2021-mamata-banerjee-and-muslim-votes/articleshow/81700787.cms, West Bengal elections 2021: Mamata Banerjee and Muslim votes - Times of India, The Times of India,

Notable Muslims from West Bengal

Kolkata

• Altamas Kabir, Indian former Chief Justice of India
• Abdul Masood, Indian Former cricketer.
• Hashim Abdul Halim, Indian Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembl.
• Mohammed Ali Qamar, boxer, medalist in Commonwealth Games.
• Mohammad Hamid Ansari, former Vice President of India
• Mohammed Salim (footballer), Indian footballer
• Mohammed Salim (politician), The Minister for Technical Education and Training, Youth Welfare
• Firhad Hakim, Mayor of Kolkata, MIC Urban Development and Municipal Affairs
• Begum Rokeya, Bengali feminist thinker, writer, Philanthropist
• Sultan Ahmed (politician), Indian politician and former Union Minister of State Tourism.
• Noor Alam Chowdhury, Former Minister of Animal Resources Development.
• Mohammed Rafique (footballer), Indian footballer
• Sahil Khan, Indian gymnast and model of India
• Nafisa Ali, Indian actress, politician and social activist
• Pinky Lilani, Indian author, motivational speaker, food expert and women’s advocate

Malda

• Alaul Haq, Bengali Islamic scholar
• Usman Serajuddin, Bengali Islamic scholar
• A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury, former Railways Minister (India)
• Mausam Noor former M.P of Maldaha Uttar
• Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury M.P of Maldaha Dakshin and Ex-State Health Minister
• Isha Khan Choudhury current M.L.A of Sujapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
• Abu Nasar Khan Choudhury Ex-M.L.A of Sujapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency) and Ex-Minister of Science and Technology
• Sabina Yeasmin current M.L.A of Mothabari and Minister of North Bengal Development, Irrigation Department
• Rubi Noor former three times M.L.A of Sujapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)

Murshidabad

• Murshid Quli Khan, the first Nawab of Bengal
• Amina Begum, princess of the Nawab family and mother of siraj ud-Daulah
• Siraj ud-Daulah, last independent nawab of Bengal
• Abul Hayat, actor
• Mir Afsar Ali, radio jockey, actor
• Abdul Alim, folk singer, songwriter
• Baby Islam, cinematographer and director
• Syed Mustafa Siraj, Bengali writer
• Mujibar Rahaman, Bengali Documentary Filmmaker
• Moinul Hassan, writer, member of Parliament of India
• Mabinul Haq, Bengali writer
• Moniruddin Khan, Bengali poet and writer
• Abul Bashar, Bengali writer
• Syed Badrudduja, politician and former mayor of Kolkata
• Jahanara Imam, writer and political activist
• Zainal Abedin, politician and four time former MP of Jangipur
• Niamot Sheikh, M.L.A of Hariharpara, Hariharpara
• Babar Ali (teacher), “youngest headmaster in the world” by BBC

Hooghly

• Mohammad Abu Bakr Siddique, was a Bengali Islamic scholar and the inaugural Pir of Furfura Sharif, West Bengal
• Abdul Mannan, politician
• Muhammad Mohsin, Bengali social reformer, Islamic scholar, philanthropist
• Syed Rahim Nabi, retired professional Indian international footballer who primarily played as a midfielder though he could play as a striker and defender.
• Abbas Siddiqui, founder of Indian Secular Front

Bardhaman

• Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bengali poet and music lyricist composer, writer known as Bidrohi Kobi.
• Abul Hashim, Islamic thinker and Freedom Fighter.
• Abdullah el Baqui, Bengali Islamic scholar, writer, Freedom Fighter.
• Nawab Abdul Jabbar, Indian bureaucrat, Social worker.
• Sheikh Saidul Haque, The first and incumbent M.P. from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency.
• Abu Ayesh Mondal, Former chairman of West Bengal Minority Development & Finance Corporation.
• Siddiqullah Chowdhury, politician, minister and president Of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.

Birbhum

• Ekram Ali, Bengali poet

North 24 Parganas

• Titumir One of the First Bengali Freedom Fighter
• Azizul Haque (educator), Educationist, Education minister for Bengal .
• Mohammad Akram Khan, Bengali journalist,
• Masudur Rahman Baidya, Bengali swimmer.
• Sheikh Sahil , Footballer
• Rafikul Islam Mondal Indian politician ,MLA from the Basirhat Uttar.
• Haji Nurul Islam Indian politician ,MLA from the Haroa.
• Abdur Rahim Quazi Indian politician ,MLA from the Baduria.
• ATM Abdullah Indian politician.

South 24 Parganas

• Abdur Razzak Molla, Former Minister for Land and Land Reforms
• Abul Hasnat, Bengali physician .
• Firdousi Begum, First Lady MLA of Sonarpur Uttar

Howrah

• Azangachhi Shaheb, Indian Sufi saint.
• Hannan Mollah, social worker and MLA
• Afsar Amed, Writer

Uttar Dinajpur

• Abdul Karim Chowdhury , Bengali Former Politician , Ex Minister for Mass Education Extension and Library Services.

Midanapur

• Ubaidullah Al Ubaidi Suhrawardy, Bengali Educationist.
• Khujista Akhtar Banu, writer, social reformer.
• Begum Badar un nissa Akhtar, Indian social reformer.
• Zahid Suhrawardy, jurist and lawyer.
• Hasan Shaheed Suhrawardy, Translator, art critic, Diplomat.
• Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Prime minister of Bengal.

Cooch Behar

• Abbasuddin Ahmed, Folk singer and Composer.
• Ferdausi Rahman, Folk singer
• Hussain Muhammad Ershad, military officer and politician who served as President of Bangladesh.

Jalpaiguri

• Khaleda Zia, politician who served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Nadia

• Mohammad Mozammel Huq, Poet, novelist
• I’tisam-ud-Din, linguistic, Munshi in Mughal period.
• Azizunnessa Khatun, a Bengali poet, writer, and philanthropist.
• Nurun Nahar Faizannesa, Feminist.

See also

• Islam in Bangladesh
• Bengali Muslims
• Islam in India

References

{{reflist|2}}{{IslamismSA|state=collapsed}} {{Islam in India by region}}{{Minority Concentrated Districts in India}}