Islam in Mizoram
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Islam is a minority religion in Mizoram, a state in northeastern India, where it constitutes approximately 1.35%(14,832) of the total population, according to the 2011 Census.[1] The Muslim community in Mizoram is diverse, with ethnic groups such as the Assamese, Bengali, a small local converts.
History
[edit]The advent of Islam in Mizoram dates to the late nineteenth century, when Muslim soldiers serving under the British colonial forces arrived during the Lushai Expedition (1871–1872 and 1889–1890).[2] A number of sepoys who accompanied the expeditionary troops were of Muslim background, marking the first recorded presence of Islam in the region.[3]
Although their numbers remained small, the continued military presence, migration of traders from present-day Assam and Bengal, and later government employment contributed to the gradual settlement of Muslims in Mizoram throughout the twentieth century. The population of the community expanded slowly but consistently, forming small clusters across what became the districts of the modern state.[3]
Culture
[edit]Muslims in Mizoram celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the high school ground in Zarkawt, Aizawl, which is 15 minutes away from the Aijwal Mosque.[a] The ground is near a church, showing harmony between the Christians and Muslims of Mizoram.[5][6][7]
Quran is also Translated in Mizo languages.[8]
Demographics
[edit]| Year | (Pop.) | (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 202[10] | |
| 1951 | ~1,200 | ~0.6 |
| 1961 | ~1,500 | ~0.6 |
| 1971 | 1882[11] | 0.40 |
| 1981 | 2,205[12] | 0.45 |
| 1991 | 4,538[13] | 0.66 |
| 2001 | 10,099[14] | 1.01 |
| 2011 | 14,832 | 1.35 |
The Significant population of Muslims in Mizoram are Bengali, Pangals and Assamese living in northern Mizoram districts of Kolasib and Mamit where there are five mosques.[15][16][17]
There is also small community of khasi and Chakma, who follow Islam.[18][19]
- Scheduled Tribes (29.0%)
- other Muslims (71.0%)
Muslim population by district
[edit]| District[21] | Percent | Popul. |
|---|---|---|
| Aizawl | 1.31% | 5,177 |
| Champhai | 0.56% | 483 |
| Kolasib | 5.27% | 4,426 |
| Lawngtlai | 0.44% | 552 |
| Lunglei | 0.80% | 1,164 |
| Mamit | 2.06% | 1,782 |
| Saiha | 0.91% | 514 |
| Serchhip | 0.52% | 335 |
Education
[edit]According to the 2011 Census of India, Muslims in Mizoram had a literacy rate of 81.70%, which was significantly higher than the national Muslim literacy average of 57.28%. The community also recorded a comparatively high proportion of graduates and above (3.93%), reflecting relatively better educational attainment among Muslims in the state.[22]
| Education | Mizoram | Muslims | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In no. | (%) | ||
| Illiterate | 228,110 | 2,174 | 14.65% |
| Literate | 805,418 | 12,118 | 81.70% |
| Graduate and above | 73,541 | 584 | 3.93% |
| Total population | 1,033,528 | 14,832 | 100% |
Muslim population by Tribal Groups
[edit]| Tribe Name | Total Muslims |
|---|---|
| All Schedule Tribes | 4,209 |
| Chakma | 183 |
| Dimasa Kachari | 99 |
| Garo | 20 |
| Hmar | 142 |
| Any Kuki Tribes | 205 |
| Any Mizo (Lushai) tribes | 3,168 |
| Any Naga tribes | 27 |
| Pawi | 158 |
| Paite | 109 |
| Generic Tribes etc. | 65 |
Organisations
[edit]See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Jump up to: a b "C-01: Population by religious community, Mizoram - 2011". Census Department, Government of India. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ Pachuau, Joy L. K.; Schendel, Willem van (2015-04-13). The Camera as Witness. Cambridge University Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-107-07339-5.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Chakravarty 2020, p. 89.
- ^ ""As it is a mandatory in Mizoram, we must make sure that during your stay in Mizoram you should hold a valid ILP," - Md. Mamon Majumdar". EXPLORE MIZORAM - Mizoram's Most Trusted Website | Mizoram's Online Encyclopedia. 2025-06-07. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Fanai, Ezrela Dalidia (August 12, 2019). "Muslims offer namaz near church in Christian-majority Mizoram". EastMojo.
- ^ Verghese, C. G. (1997). A History of the Mizos. Vikas Publishing House. p. 26. ISBN 978-81-259-0307-9.
- ^ "India - ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Mizoram - 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ^ Gajrani, S. (2004). History, Religion and Culture of India. Gyan Publishing House. p. 239. ISBN 978-81-8205-065-5.
- ^ crsmizo.mizoram.gov.in http://crsmizo.mizoram.gov.in/demography/index.php?page=census_religion_district&title=Religion-Wise%20Population%20-%20Census%20of%20MizoramPopulation%20-%20Census%20of%20Mizoram. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Ahmed 2003, p. 235
Total Muhammadans = 202; Sunnis = 146; Ahl-e-Hadis = 1; Other Muhammadans = 50 - ^ "CENSUS 1971 CENSUS HANDBOOK MIZORAM" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. p. 163. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-05-17. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ^ "CENSUS OF INDIA 1981 MIZORAM PART XII CENSUS ATLAS" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. 31. p. 52. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-05-17. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ^ "CENSUS OF INDIA 1991 SERIES-1 INDIA Paper 1 of 1995 RELIGION" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-02-28. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ^ "AREA AND POPULATION" (PDF). mospi.gov.in. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-12. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ^ Chakravarty 2020, p. 89, 93.
- ^ Bharadwaj, Sanskrita. "Why seven people died in clash between two northeast India states". Archived from the original on 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
Talukdar added that the anxieties of the Mizos are similar to those of the Assamese, who also consider themselves indigenous and dislike the Bengali Muslims
- ^ "As threats rise, Meiteis exodus from Mizoram continues". The Times of India. 2023-07-24. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
A vast majority of the Manipuri people, both Meiteis and Pangals (Manipuri Muslims), in Mizoram are from the Barak Valley areas of Assam.
- ^ Dikshit, K. R.; Dikshit, Jutta K. (21 October 2013). "The People of Meghalaya". North-East India: Land, People and Economy. Springer Science+Business Media. p. 361.
- ^ Chakravarty 2020, p. 52.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Source:Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Population Census 2011. Table ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Mizoram - 2011
- ^ "Mizoram Religion Data - Census 2011". www.census2011.co.in. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ^ "India - C-09: Educational level by religious community and sex for population age 7 and above, 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2026-05-23. Retrieved 2026-05-23.
- ^ Chakraborty, Anup Shekhar (2022-10-10), "Gleaning Political Communication Through 'Notices' in North East India", Political Communication in Contemporary India (1 ed.), London: Routledge India, p. 139, doi:10.4324/9781003159995-17, ISBN 978-1-003-15999-5, retrieved 2026-01-29 – via Google Books
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link) - ^ "The Mizoram Gazette" (PDF). mizoramassembly.in. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-04-12. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
- ^ "Border standoff: Mizoram's Muslim organisations appeal to people to maintain peace". NORTHEAST NOW. Archived from the original on 2020-11-03. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
- Chakravarty, Ankita (2020), Tribal Atlas Mizoram (PDF), Aizawl, Mizoram: Social Welfare & Tribal Affairs Department, Government of Mizoram, archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-11-04
- Ahmed, Syed (2003). Islam in North-East India: 17th to the 19th Century (PDF). School of Social Sciences (Ph.D. thesis). Supervisor: Yogesh Sharma. Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University. p. 237. hdl:10603/16737. S2CID 162543019. Archived from the original on 2025-11-18. Retrieved 2025-11-18.