Guwahati: The Assam government has commenced preliminary steps towards undertaking a significant caste census with a specific focus on identifying and documenting the state’s indigenous Muslim communities, announced Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday.
For a considerable period, the indigenous Muslim populations within Assam have voiced a strong need for a caste-based census to firmly establish their unique socio-cultural identities, the Chief Minister conveyed through a post on X.
He elaborated that communities such as the Goria, Moria, Deshi, Syed, and Jolha (Julha) Muslims residing in the Brahmaputra Valley, alongside the Kiren and Maimal Muslims of the Barak Valley, have consistently asserted that while their faith is Islam, they also possess distinct ethnic, linguistic, and cultural characteristics that clearly set them apart from Muslim populations of migrant origin or those considered non-indigenous.
These communities, the Chief Minister highlighted, have diligently preserved their own distinct traditions, dialects, and historical narratives that are deeply interwoven with Assam’s rich civilizational heritage and broader cultural tapestry.
Acknowledging their long-standing and persistent demand, the Government of Assam has now initiated the necessary preparatory actions to conduct a comprehensive caste census specifically aimed at meticulously documenting and clearly distinguishing these indigenous groups, as stated by the Chief Minister.
He further explained that the proposed caste enumeration, which is intended to be integrated into the upcoming national census, is expected to finally realize their decades-long aspiration for formal recognition of their independent identity – an identity that is distinct from broader religious classifications and groupings based on migratory patterns.
The decision to include caste enumeration in the next census exercise was formally decided by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) during a meeting held on April 30.
It is noteworthy that the Congress party and various other opposition parties have been actively advocating for a nationwide caste census, making it a prominent issue in recent elections, and several states including Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka have already conducted such surveys within their jurisdictions.
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