Islam in West Bengal
According to the 2011 Census of India, the West Bengal state has over 24.6 million Bengali Muslims,[2] who form 27.01% of the state's population.[3] Bengali Muslims form the majority of the population in three districts: Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur.[4]
Total population | |
---|---|
24,654,825 (2011)[1] 27.01% of Population | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Majority in Murshidabad with 66.2%, Maldah with 51.3%, Uttar dinajpur with 50% as of 2011. Highest concentration in Birbhum with 37%, South 24 Parganas with 35.6%, Cooch Behar with 25.54% as of 2011. | |
Languages | |
Bengali and Urdu |
Population
The Bengali Muslim population in West Bengal before 1947 was around 30% and during the time of independence, it went down to just 18% in West Bengal just after 1947 partition.[5] After partition of Bengal in 1947, the majority of Bengali Muslims from West Bengal have immigrated to East Pakistan, (Present-Day-Bangladesh). Estimates show that nearly 1,534,718 Bengali Muslims left West Bengal permanently for East Pakistan during 1947-1951.[6] However due to high birth rate the Muslim population in West Bengal has risen since independence. In the 1951 census, the Bengali Muslim population in West Bengal was recorded as 5,220,547 comprising 19.85% of the state population and in 2011 census, it had increased to 24,654,825 comprising 27.01% of the state population.
Population by district
# | District | Total population | Muslim population | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Murshidabad | 7,103,807 | 4,707,573 | 66.88% |
2 | South 24 Parganas | 8,161,961 | 2,903,075 | 35.57% |
3 | North 24 Parganas | 10,009,781 | 2,584,684 | 25.82% |
4 | Malda | 3,988,845 | 2,045,151 | 51.27% |
5 | Bardhaman | 7,717,563 | 1,599,764 | 20.73% |
6 | Uttar Dinajpur | 3,007,134 | 1,501,170 | 49.92% |
7 | Nadia | 5,167,600 | 1,382,682 | 26.76% |
8 | Birbhum | 3,502,404 | 1,298,054 | 37.06% |
9 | Howrah | 4,850,029 | 1,270,641 | 26.20% |
10 | Kolkata | 4,496,694 | 926,414 | 20.60% |
11 | Hooghly | 5,519,145 | 870,204 | 15.77% |
12 | Purba Medinipur | 5,095,875 | 743,436 | 14.59% |
13 | Cooch Behar | 2,819,086 | 720,033 | 25.54% |
14 | Paschim Medinipur | 5,913,457 | 620,554 | 10.49% |
15 | Jalpaiguri | 3,872,846 | 445,817 | 11.51% |
16 | Dakshin Dinajpur | 1,676,276 | 412,788 | 24.63% |
17 | Bankura | 3,596,674 | 290,450 | 8.08% |
18 | Purulia | 2,930,115 | 227,249 | 7.76% |
19 | Darjeeling | 1,846,823 | 105,086 | 5.69% |
## | West Bengal (Total) | 91,276,115 | 24,654,825 | 27.01% |
Growth rate
West Bengal had high growth in the Muslim population at 1.94 when compared to the rest of the country.[4]
Trends
Census year | % of total population | Decadal growth | Increase |
---|---|---|---|
1946 (Before partition) | 30.32% | NA | NA |
1947 (After partition) | 18.12% | 23.34% |
-12.2% |
1951 | 19.85% | 27.26% |
+1.73% |
1961 | 20% | 36.48% | +0.15% |
1971 | 20.46% | 29.76% | +0.46% |
1981 | 21.51% | 29.55% | +1.05% |
1991 | 23.61% | 36.89% | +2.1% |
2001 | 25.25% | 25.91% | +1.64% |
2011 | 27.01% | 21.80% | +1.76% |
Census year | % of total population | Decadal growth | Increase |
---|---|---|---|
1901 | 25.98% | NA | NA |
1911 | 26.31% | NA | NA |
1921 | 27.07% | NA | NA |
1931 | 28.65% | NA | NA |
1941 | 29.18% | NA | NA |
1946 | 30.32% | NA | NA |
Notable Bengali Muslims
Kolkata
- Mohammed Ali Qamar, Boxer, Medalist in Commonwealth Games
- Nusrat Jahan, Actress, Politician .
- Rupam Islam, Musician
- Masudur Rahman Baidya, Swimmer
- Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Former Vice President of India
- Mohammed Salim (footballer)
- Mohammed Salim (politician)
- Altamas Kabir, Former Chief Justice of India
- Firhad Hakim, Mayor of Kolkata, MIC Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.
- Nafisa Ali, Actress, Politician & Social Activist
- Aamir Gani, Bengal Cricketer
- Shahbaz Ahmed (cricketer), Bengal Cricketer
- Sahil khan,famous gymnast and model of india
Malda
- A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury, former Railways Minister (India)
- Mausam Noor Formar 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 Ex-Minister of Labour Department
- Rubi Noor former three times M.L.A of Sujapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Murshidabad
- Mir Afsar Ali, Radio Jockey, Actor
- Syed Mustafa Siraj, Bengali writer
- Abul Bashar, Bengali writer
- Niamot Sheikh, Current M.L.A of Hariharpara, Hariharpara.
Hooghly
- Abdul Mannan (West Bengal politician), Politician
Burdwan
- Siddiqullah Chowdhury, Politician & President Of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
South 24 Parganas
- Abdur Razzak Molla, Politician & Former Minister Of Land Reforms
References
- Census of India - Religious Composition
- Population by religious community: West Bengal. 2011 Census of India.
- "Census 2011 shows Islam is the fastest growing religion in India". Mint. 26 August 2015.
- Saibal Sen (26 August 2015). "Bengal beats India in Muslim growth rate".
- http://www.newdelhitimes.com/demographic-changes-is-bengal-sitting-on-a-volcano
- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Bengal_(1947)#CITEREFChatterjee2007
- B.P. Syam Roy (28 September 2015). "Bengal's topsy-turvy population growth". The Statesman. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016.
- Nahid Kamal. "The Population Trajectories of Bangladesh and West Bengal During the Twentieth Century: A Comparative Study" (PDF).