Demography of Assam

The population of Assam consist of tribal ethnic groups (Bodo, Karbi, Rabha, Mishing, Dimasa), and linguistic groups such as Assamese, Bengali, Hindi speakers and Nepali.

Religion
Religions practiced among Native Assamese people
Religion Population  % Ref.
Assamese Hindus 10 million 64.88 [1]
Assamese Muslims 4 million 25.95 [2]
Assamese Christians 1.4 million 9.08 [1]
Assamese Sikhs 12 thousands 0.09 [3]
Total (worldwide) 15.412 million 100 [4]

Religion in Assam is closely related to ethnicity, closely around 65% of Assamese people, 90% of Bodo tribe, 83% of Karbi tribe, 95% of Ahom tribe, 94% of Rabha tribe, 97% of Mishing tribe, 99% of Dimasa tribe are mainly Hindu by religion. Christianity is mainly practised by 9% of Assamese Community, 10% of Bodo tribe, 20% of Tea Tribe & 15% of Karbi tribe respectively.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] About 26% of all Ethnic Assamese are Muslim by faith.[14] Majority of 66% of the Assam Bengalis are Muslim by faith, & a significant population of them about 34% adheres to Hindu faith.[15] Immigrants from other parts of India, like Marwaris, Biharis, Nepalis, Uttar Pradeshis, Oriyas etc are mostly Hindu with minority being Muslims.

Kamakhya Temple
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Religion in Assam (2011)[16]

  Hinduism (61.47%)
  Islam (34.22%)
  Christianity (3.74%)
  Buddhism (0.18%)
  Jainism (0.08%)
  Sikhism (0.07%)
  Animism (0.09%)
  Other or not religious (0.16%)
Basistha Temple in Guwahati.

According to the 2011 census, 61.47% were Hindus, 34.22% were Muslims.[16][17] Christian minorities (3.7%) are found among the Scheduled Tribe and Castes population.[18] Other religions followed include Jainism (0.1%), Buddhism (0.2%), Sikhism (0.1%) and Animism (amongst Khamti, Phake, Aiton etc. communities). Many Hindus in Assam are followers of the Ekasarana Dharma sect of Hinduism, which gave rise to Namghar, designed to be simpler places of worship than traditional Hindu temples.

Assam's Religious diversity as of the 2011 census[19]
Religion Population
Hindus () 19,180,759
Muslims () 10,679,345
Christians () 1,165,867
Buddhists () 54,993
Jains () 25,949
Sikhs () 20,672
Other religions 27,118
Not stated/available 50,873
Total 31,205,576

Out of 32 districts of Assam, 11 are Muslim-majority and 5 districts have significant population according to the 2011 census of India. The districts are Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Morigaon, Nagaon, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Darrang, South Salmara, Hojai and Bongaigaon. Significant Muslim populated districts are Cachar, Nalbari, Kokrajhar, Chirang and Kamrup.[20][21][22]

Demography

The issue of illegal influx has a 40-year history, starting with the anti-foreigner agitation that began in 1979 under the leadership of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). In 1985, after hundreds of people died in course of Independent India’s biggest mass uprising, the AASU, and other agitation groups signed an agreement with the Centre called the Assam Accord. It fixed 25 March 1971 as the cut-off date for detection and expulsion of illegal migrants, meaning anyone found entering India after this date were to be detected and sent back.

According to an Assam government white paper, between 1985 and 2012, 2,442 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh had been expelled from the state. On 1 September 2020, when Assam final NRC list was released, It was found that 19,06,657 people names have been excluded (which is about 6% of the state population), out of total 3.11 crore state population.[23][24]

Assam has two valleys - 1) Brahmaputra Valley/Assam Valley (dominated by Native Assamese and other Indigenous tribals like Bodos), 2) Barak Valley (dominated by Native Bengalis). While Bodoland region of Brahmaputra Valley is dominated by Bodo tribe, followed by Assamese community. Also it have three hills district comprising Karbi Anglong (East & West) and Dima Hasao (dominated mainly by tribals).[25]

Languages spoken in Brahmaputra Valley (2011)[26][27]

  Assamese (Official) (55.66%)
  Bengali (22.1%)
  Hindi (7.6%)
  Bodo (5.13%)
  Others (9.52%)
See also: Assamese Language Movement

The population of the Brahmaputra Valley is 27,580,977 according to the 2011 census report by the Assam government. Assamese is the official language of the Brahmaputra Valley and is spoken by 15.1 million people comprising 55.65% of the valley population. Bengali is spoken by 6.09 million people representing 22.1% of the valley, Hindi is spoken by 2.1 million comprising 7.61% of the region, Bodo is spoken by 1.41 million comprising 5.13% of the valley's population and 2.88 million people speak various indigenous tribal languages of Assam, such as Santali, Karbi, Lalung, Hmar, Deori, Rabha, Mishing, Koch, Rajbangshi, Sadri, Garo, Dimasa, Gondi, Savara, Gorkha, Halam, Rengma, Ao and Motak.

Languages spoken in Barak Valley (2011)[28]

  Bengali (80.84%)
  Hindi (10%)
  Manipuri (3.49%)
  Bishnupriya Manipuri (1.38%)
  Dimasa (0.6%)
  Tripuri (0.59%)
  Odia (0.53%)
  Nepali (0.14%)
  Others (2.43%)
See also: Bengali Language Movement (Barak Valley)

As per (2011) language census report, Bengali is the official as well as the most spoken language of the region with approximately 2,930,378 native speakers.[28]

Hindi, Manipuri, Bishnupriya and Dimasa are the next most widely spoken languages with 362,459, 126,498, 50,019 and 21,747 native speakers, respectively. Tripuri, Odia, Nepali and Marwari are also spoken by a considerable minority, while 2.43% of the total population speaks other tribal languages.[28]

Demographic changes

As per as census of India report 2011, around 14,816,414 Assamese speaking population lives in India, thus constituting 1.26% of the nation's population.[29]

Historical Assamese Population in Assam
YearPop.±%
1951 4,971,229—    
1961 6,784,271+36.5%
1971 8,905,544+31.3%
1991 12,958,088+45.5%
2001 13,010,478+0.4%
2011 15,095,797+16.0%
Source: [30]

Languages of Assam (2011)[31]

  Assamese (48.38%)
  Bengali (28.92%)
  Bodo (4.51%)
  Hindi (3.21%)
  Sadri (2.29%)
  Mishing (1.98%)
  Nepali (1.91%)
  Karbi (1.64%)
  Others (7.16%)

As per 2011 census, Assam state had around 31.2 million people, out of which (15 million) were Assamese speakers comprising 48% of the state population, while (9 million) were Bengali speakers comprising 29% of the state population, and 3.21% spoke Hindi and its dialects.[32][33]

Decadal percentage of Assamese speakers in Assam[30]

Year Percent Increase
1951 56.29% -
1961 57.14% +0.85%
1971 59.53% +2.39%
1991 57.81% -1.72%
2001 48.81% -9%
2011 48.37% -0.44%

According to reports, in 1971 the number of Assamese-speaking populace was 60.89% in the census, with a population of (8.9 million), higher than their numbers in 2011. While the Bengali and Hindi-speaking population were at 19.70% (2.8 million) and 5.42% (7.9 lakhs).[34][35] The Assamese speakers constituted 48% of the State population according to the 2011 Census, and it is predicted that the 2021 Census (currently under way) will reveal the percentage to dip lower below 40%.[36] However, If Bengali-majority Barak valley region is excluded, then the percentage of native Assamese speakers in Assam alone will rise directly to 55.65% from 48% as per 2011 Census figures calculation.[37][32]

Illegal Immigration

In January 2019, the Assam's peasant organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) claimed that there are around 20 lakh (2 million) Hindu Bangladeshis in Assam.[38] According to the census data, the number of Hindu immigrants is difficult to ascertain and have been largely exaggerated.[39]

Census of India between (2001-2011) have shown that Bangladeshi Muslim population grows 5-7% in Assam specially in the bordering districts over the past decade.[40] In February 2020, the Assam Minority Development Board announced plans to segregate illegal Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants from the indigenous Muslims of the state, though some have expressed problems in identifying an indigenous Muslim person. According to the board, there are 1.3 crore (13 million) Muslims in the state, of which 9 million are of Bangladeshi origin.[41][42] Allegedly the number of 'illegal immigrants' in Assam of all religions is about 1 crore (10 million) and are scattered across the length and breadth of the state.[43][44] A report reveals that out of total 33 districts in Assam, Bangladeshis dominate almost 15 districts of Assam.[45]

See also

Notes
  1. Shaikh, Mohammed Uzair (9 April 2016). "Assam Assembly Elections 2016: Assamese are minority, Muslims are largest electoral group in this poll battle!". India.com. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  2. Kalita, Prabin; Kalita, Kangkan (12 February 2020). "Assam news: 40 lakh Assamese-speaking Muslims may get 'ethnic tribe' tag". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  3. "Cut off from roots, Assamese Sikhs seek quota, council". 29 March 2016.
  4. "Assamese language". 23 September 2023.
  5. "Miri in India".
  6. "Rabha in India".
  7. "Religion Data of Census 2011: XXIX Northeast ST".
  8. Saikia, Yasmin (2004). Fragmented Memories: Struggling to be Tai-Ahom in India. Duke University Press. ISBN 082238616X.
  9. Ethnic Issues, Secularism and Conflict Resolution in North East India, pp. 145, Concept Publishing Company, 2006, ISBN 9788180691348, ... Amongst the plains tribals in the state of Assam, the Bodos are the largest group ...
  10. Hanse, H.M. (2007). Traditional Dwelling Process of Karbis. In P.C. Patniak & D.Borah (Eds), Tribes of India: Identity, Culture, and Lore (pp.61–79) Guwahati: Angik Prakashan
  11. Phangcho, P.C. (2003). The Karbis of North-East India. Guwahati: AngGik Prakashan.
  12. Terang, C.K. (2007). "Festival and Beliefs of the Karbi Tribe". In P.C. Patnaik; D. Borah (eds.). Tribes of India: Identity, Culture, and Lore (Special Focus on the Karbis of Assam). Guwahati: Angik Prakashan.
  13. "Reference at censusindia.gov.in".
  14. "Assamese Muslims recognised as a distinct indigenous community". The Hindu. 6 July 2022.
  15. "The role of language and religion in Assam battle". 24 March 2021.
  16. "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2012. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.
  17. "Census 2011 data rekindles 'demographic invasion' fear in Assam". 26 August 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  18. "India's religions by numbers". The Hindu. 26 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  19. "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India".
  20. "Muslim majority districts in Assam up". The Times of India. 26 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  21. "Assam Muslim growth is higher in districts away from border". 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  22. "Census 2011 data rekindles 'demographic invasion' fear in Assam". 26 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  23. "Assam final NRC list released: 19,06,657 people excluded, 3.11 crore make it to citizenship list". India Today. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  24. "Over 19 lakh excluded, 3.1 crore included in Assam NRC final list". 31 August 2019.
  25. https://assam.gov.in/
  26. "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  27. "Battleground Assam a tale of two valleys and the CAA quandary Assam bengal polls 2021 | Opinion News – India TV". 18 February 2021.
  28. "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue". census.gov.in. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  29. "Abstract of Speakers' Strength of Languages and Mother Tongues - 2011" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  30. https://www.asianpa.org › k_...PDF Assamese Language in the Light of Census - Asian Population Association
  31. "Distribution of the 22 scheduled languages-India/States/Union Territories - 2011 census" (PDF). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  32. "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  33. "Voting on religious lines, Bengali speakers may help BJP, Congress win in Assam". 21 April 2019.
  34. "Assamese speaking population decreasing alarmingly". The Sentinel. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  35. "Assamese Speaking Population Declines To 48.38 %". Pratidine Times. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  36. "Assamese speakers in Assam: An insecure future?". 10 April 2021.
  37. Bhandari, Shashwat (18 February 2021). "Battleground Assam A tale of two valleys and the CAA quandary Assam bengal polls 2021 | Opinion News – India TV". India TV News. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  38. "20 lakh Bangladeshi Hindus to become Indians if Citizenship Bill is passed: Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti". The Economic Times. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  39. "Citizenship Amendment Act: BJP chasing ghosts in Assam; Census data shows number of Hindu immigrants may have been exaggerated". Firstpost. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  40. Kumar, Manan (1 September 2014). "Bangladeshi Muslim population grows 5-7% in Assam and West Bengal". DNA India. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  41. Hazarika, Mytithili (12 February 2020). "BJP wants to segregate Assamese Muslims from Bangladeshi Muslims, but some ask how". The Print. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  42. PTI (10 February 2020). "Assam plans survey to identify indigenous Muslim population". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  43. "TIME8 News | 1 Crore Illegal Bangladeshis' Name Included In Assam NRC: Shiladitya Dev". TIME8 News. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  44. "1 Crore Illegal Bangladeshis Residing In Assam: Dipanka Nath". Pratidin Time. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  45. "Hari Shankar Brahma report reveals illegal Bangladeshis dominates 15 out of 33 Assam districts, massive threats to indigenous people | Indiablooms - First Portal on Digital News Management". Indiablooms.com. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
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