In Assam, a northeastern state of India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is attempting a political balancing act by designating some Muslim communities as indigenous. But the move has left many in those communities skeptical, especially after recent demolitions of homes in Muslim-majority neighborhoods under the pretext of protecting indigenous lands.
Bulldozers, Displacement, and Divisions
On a hot day in mid-March, bulldozers tore through Islampur, a Muslim-dominated neighborhood near Guwahati, Assam’s largest city. Over several hours, more than three dozen machines demolished homes, including that of Akram Ali, a daily wage worker who had lived there for over four decades. The razing left hundreds of families homeless within an area reportedly protected for Indigenous people under Assam’s state laws.
Ali’s community, the Goriyas, are among five Assamese-speaking Muslim subgroups recognized by the BJP as native to the state. This classification sets them apart from the Bengali-speaking Muslim population, who have often been labeled as outsiders or illegal migrants in Assam’s fraught ethnic landscape. But even with this status, Ali’s home was destroyed. “I am Goriya, son of the soil, but my home was still flattened,” he said, highlighting the precariousness of the BJP’s promise to protect Indigenous Muslims.
The Politics Behind Indigenous Recognition
Muslims make up over a third of Assam’s roughly 31 million people, according to the 2011 census. Within this group, about 4 million belong to the Indigenous Assamese-speaking Muslim communities, while approximately 6.3 million are Bengali-speaking Muslims. The BJP has sought to cultivate support from the Indigenous Muslims ahead of Assam’s legislative assembly elections, aiming for a third consecutive term in power.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a key BJP figure known for his tough stance against Bengali-speaking Muslims, has led efforts to differentiate between these groups. His government has cracked down on the so-called “miyas” — a derogatory term used for Bengali-speaking Muslims — with policies targeting alleged illegal migration and land encroachments. The outreach to Indigenous Muslims is part of a broader attempt to fracture Muslim voting blocs and consolidate Hindu nationalist support.
Community Response and Lingering Doubts
Despite official recognition, many Indigenous Muslims are wary. The demolition of homes in areas like Islampur has raised doubts about whether the BJP’s assurances hold any real weight. Residents question if their religion, rather than their Indigenous status, makes them targets.
Ali’s experience is a case in point — even with government recognition, his family lost their long-standing home.
Local activists point out that the distinction between Indigenous and Bengali-speaking Muslims is complicated and often used to justify exclusionary policies. Critics argue it deepens divisions within the Muslim community, making it harder to resist wider discrimination and marginalization. The political strategy risks alienating many who feel caught in the middle of identity politics.
Economic and Political Stakes
The BJP’s effort to win over Indigenous Muslims goes beyond identity—it’s also about politics and economics. Assam’s economy, reliant on agriculture, tea plantations, and trade, has long been influenced by ethnic tensions and migration issues. The state government claims it must protect Indigenous land rights to preserve cultural identity and prevent illegal land grabs.
Thing is, but the demolitions and displacement also exacerbate economic hardships for already vulnerable communities. Losing homes and land disrupts livelihoods, pushing many into poverty. These developments could fuel further instability in a region where ethnic and communal tensions have flared repeatedly over decades.
Politically, the BJP’s approach is a gamble. While it may secure votes from some Indigenous Muslims, it risks alienating others and deepening communal divides. Opposition parties and civil society groups have criticized the BJP’s tactics as divisive and short-sighted, warning they could backfire in future elections.
Broader Implications for India and Beyond
Assam’s situation shows a bigger trend in India, where debates about identity and citizenship are taking center stage. The BJP’s strategy of selective inclusion and exclusion is seen by many as a way to solidify Hindu nationalist power but also as a source of growing unrest and polarization.
These developments worry international observers who see risks to human rights, minority protections, and India’s social stability. Assam’s Muslims, both Indigenous and Bengali-speaking, remain at the heart of these challenges, caught between government policies and community survival.
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This article was created with AI assistance.
