The Identity Quotient

by Zafri Mudasser Nofil

Do you know that an annual procession taken out from the Haigrib Madhab temple in Hajo is incomplete without the participation of some local Muslims? And the fact that the ancestors of the Daullah family of Sivasagar town used to play the negera or drum at the Dols or temples during the reign of the Ahom kings?
The indigenous Muslims of Assam are different from rest of the community in the country. Over the years, they have assimilated to the greater Assamese society to such an extent that barring religion, there is not much to differentiate them.
The study unravels the journey of this community and looks at how they have contributed significantly to the composite heritage of the state. It profiles achievers in various fields and talks about groups like Deshis, Goriyas, Moriyas, Julhas, and also the Bengali-speaking Muslims of Barak Valley.
It also mentions the unique cuisine of Assamese Muslims, actors, singers and writers, the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the controversial citizenship bill, besides how this community, of late, has been suffering the ignominy of being bracketed with illegal immigrants as ‘Miya’ by people who do not know much about it or tend to ignore its contribution.

179 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Arefa Tehsin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Identity Quotient: The Story of Assamese Muslims is a crisp book tracing the unique history and present of the Muslims of this region. It brings forth the syncretic culture of Assam in all its glory—how the religious communities have lived in harmony for centuries, and how you are an Assamese first and a Hindu or a Muslim later. From the Moriya Muslims who once used to worship the snake goddess to Deshi Muslims, whose womenfolk wear Sindoor, from the various personalities (magicians, authors, actors, sportspersons and so on) to the delicacies of the Assamese kitchen, from the nuances of the Citizenship Bill’s opposition to the Powa Mecca (the quarter Mecca), this well-researched tome takes an in-depth look into most aspects of the lives of the indigenous Muslims, who have integrated seamlessly in the signature culture of this northeastern state. It is a must read for anyone interested in a deeper perspective of the history and/or the state specific issues with the CAA. I particularly enjoyed the section on Azan Pir as well as the IPS Imdad Ali. The author Zafri Nofil, a respected and erudite journalist, has combined his personal knowledge of the state with his journalistic research to produce this book that will be a point of reference for posterity.