Muslims should educate their children in schools instead of madarasas : Assam CM’s appeal

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Credit – Jagran English

Guwahati (Assam) – Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that if the Bengali-speaking Muslims, also known as Mias in Assam, want recognition, they must abandon practices like child marriage and polygamy. Also, if they want to make their children doctors and engineers, they must be educated in schools instead of madarasas. “Having more than two children and underage marriage of girls will not be allowed,” stated Chief Minister Sarma firmly, addressing the Muslim community. The term ‘Mia’ is commonly used for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam. Non-Bengali speaking community knows them as migrants from Bangladesh.

Chief Minister Sarma pointed out that Assamese culture does not condone practices such as multiple marriages. They treat girls as Goddesses. He emphasised the importance of embracing indigenous beliefs rather than following the traditions of Bengali-speaking Muslims to get indigenous recognition.

The Assam Government in 2022, classified approximately 40 lakh Assamese-speaking Muslims as indigenous Assamese Muslims, differentiating them from those who migrated from Bangladesh. Indigenous Assamese Muslims constitute about 37% of the total Muslim population, while approximately 63% are migrants from Bangladesh.