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{{short description|Bengali-origin muslims of Assam}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Miya
| image =
| population = {{Circa |11-12 million}} (estimated)
| popplace = {{flag|India}} ([[Assam]]) 10 million (30% of Assam's population)<ref name="scroll.in" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/assams-indigenous-muslims-may-soon-get-a-development-board/articleshow/79596591.cms|title = Assam's indigenous Muslims may soon get a development board|newspaper = The Economic Times|last1 = Singh|first1 = Bikash}}</ref>
| langs = [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Assamese language|Assamese]] and other [[Bengali-Assamese languages]]
| rels = [[Sunni Islam]]
| related = [[Bengali Muslims]], [[Assamese Muslims]], [[Mahimal]]
| native_name = মিঞা/মিয়া
| native_name_lang = as
}}
The '''Miya people''' (মিঞা/মিয়া), also known as Nao (নও অসমীয়া lit. ''neo-Assamese''), refers to the descendants of migrant [[Bengali Muslims]] from the modern [[Mymensingh Division|Mymensingh]], [[Rangpur Division|Rangpur]] and [[Rajshahi Division|Rajshahi]] Divisions, who settled in the [[Brahmaputra Valley]] during the [[British Empire|British colonisation]] of [[Colonial Assam|Assam]] in the 20th-century.<ref name="sharma2011-from">{{harvp|Sharma|2011|p=100}}: "Entire households moved into Assam from the East Bengal districts of Mymensingh, Pabna, Bogra, Rangpur and Rajshahi."</ref> Their immigration was encouraged by the Colonial British Government from [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal Province]] during 1757 to 1942<ref name="web.archive.org">https://web.archive.org/web/20190327145905/https://indilens.com/514954-miya-muslim-and-assamese-socio-cultural-history-of-assam/ Miya on History</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2021}} and the movement continued till 1947'''.'''

==Etymology==
Miya is derived from ''[[mian (title)|mian]]'', an honorific of [[Farsi|Persian origin]] used throughout [[the subcontinent]] when addressing a Muslim gentleman. Used pejoratively against the community, the term was re-appropriated by a group of ''Miya'' poets who have begun asserting their identity.<ref>{{harvp|Baruah|2020|p=53}}</ref> ''Miya'' or ''Miya Musalman'' has now begun appearing in serious discourse.<ref>{{harvp|Baruah|2020|p=53}}: "In this book I will refer to this community as ''Miya'' or ''Miya Musalman''—using the Assamese terms..."</ref> The term ''Na-Asamiya'', in the [[Assamese language]], literally means 'neo-Assamese' and was used by the community and the local elites as a new identity in Assam to establish a relationship with the Assamese language.<ref>{{harvp|Sharma|2011|p=103}}: "They gradually adopted a new identity as Na or Natun Asomiya Musalman (New Assamese Muslims), whose language was Assamese and whose religion was Islam."</ref><ref>{{harvp|Khandakar|2016|p=15}}: "Along with other migrant groups like Tea planter labourers, they were also accepted and welcomed by middle class elites of mainstream Assamese society to the fold of Assamese culture and thus termed them as "Na-Asamiya". "Na" in Assamese means "new", "Asamiya" means Assamese. Thus Na-Asamiya means New Assamese."</ref> They are also referred to as ''Charua Musalman'', literally meaning Muslims of the ''char''s (riverine islands), because of their preference in settling in the ''char''s;<ref>{{harvp|Sharma|2011|p=102}}</ref> and as ''Pamua Musalman'', literally meaning Muslim farmers, as agriculture is their primary livelihood.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==History==
=== Internal migration to Assam ===
The internal migration of Bengali Muslims from [[Rajshahi Division|Rajshahi]], [[Rangpur District|Rangpur]] and [[Mymensingh Division|Mymensingh]] divisions of [[Bengal Presidency|British Bengal presidency]] (present Bangladesh) to Kamrup (present Assam) started during the census decade of 1901–1911.<ref>{{harvp|Baruah|1999|p=56}}: "The disappointment of the nineteenth-century colonial officials, however, gave way to optimism by 1911, as dramatic trends of migration began to appear just prior to that census."</ref> According to census reports, there was a large-scale migration of human population from eastern Bengal to Assam between 1911 and 1941.<ref name="zaman">{{cite journal|last=Ahmed|first=Shahiuz Zaman|title=Identity Issue, Foreigner's Deportation Movement and Erstwhile East Bengal (Present Bangladesh) Origin People of Assam|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|year=2006|publisher=Indian History Congress|volume=67|issue=2006–2007|pages=624–639|jstor=44147982}}</ref> 85% of the immigrant population were socially and economically underprivileged Muslims who settled down in the wastelands of Assam.<ref name="zaman"/> The majority of the internal migrants came from the erstwhile undivided Mymensingh and Rangpur districts of present Bangladesh, What were territories of [[Kamarupa|Kamrupa Kingdom]].<ref name="sharma2011-from"/>

The internal migration of Muslims peasants from [[East Bengal]] of former Pakistan was officially encouraged prior to the [[Partition of India]] by the British imperialists, the [[All-India Muslim League]] as well as a section of the Assamese elite; bit it was only considered illegal after the Partition of India in 1947 when Assam belonged to India and East Bengal to Pakistan.<ref name="indilens.com">{{cite web|url=https://indilens.com/514954-miya-muslim-and-assamese-socio-cultural-history-of-assam/|title=Miya, Muslim and Assamese Socio-Political History of Assam|date=7 September 2016|website=Indilens.com|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=June 2020}} Many of these migrant Muslims settled on the ''char''s or [[river island|riverine islands]] on the [[Brahmaputra]] and other low-lying areas. After the [[Independence of India]] in 1947, the group gave up their Bengali linguistic identity, adopting the Assamese language as their native language. Gradually they adopted Assamese culture which has led to them being known as ''Na-Asamiya'' (Neo-Assamese, who are Bengali origin). The Na-Asamiyas constitute the largest of the four major [[Islam in Assam|Muslim ethnic groups in Assam]], who together constitute a third of Assam's electorate.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bhaumik|first=Subir|date=April 2011|title=Risk of durable disorder|journal=Seminar|publisher=Seminar Publications|location=New Delhi|issue=620|url=http://www.india-seminar.com/2011/620/620_subir_bhaumik.htm|access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref>

The local gentry of Assam including ''matabbar''s, ''Barpetia matigiri''s, Marwaris and Assamese moneylenders encouraged the internal migration out of their own interests. The ''matabbar''s (literally meaning 'influential person' in [[Bengali language|Bengali]]) were the earlier migrants, who owned large amounts of fallow cultivable lands ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 acres. With the ambition of becoming landlords they would send out the message of availability of cultivable lands to their impoverished kinsmen in their native villages in eastern Bengal. They would then either unofficially lease out their lands to the internal migrant Muslims who arrived later or hire them to cultivate their lands. Thus they would act as de facto landlords. The ''Barpetia matigiri''s were a section of Assamese gentry in Barpeta district who made profit by selling excess lands to the internal migrant Muslims and encouraged further migration to make even quicker profits. The Marwaris and the Assamese money lenders financed the internal migrant Muslims for the cultivation of jute, ''ahu'' rice, pulses and vegetables.

==Demography==
Miyas have a population of almost over 10 million which is spread throughout Assam covering 35% of the state population as of 2021 estimation,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/online-census-of-assamese-muslims-launched/article34325747.ece|title= The JSPA claims Assam today has about 1.4 crore Muslims as of 2021|website=The Hindu|date= 15 April 2021}}</ref> though they are mainly concentrated in [[Barpeta district|Barpeta]], [[Dhubri district|Dhuburi]], [[Goalpara district|Goalpara]], [[Kamrup district|Kamrup]], [[Nagaon district|Nagaon]], [[Hojai District|Hojai]], [[Darrang district|Darrang]], [[Chirang district|Chirang]], [[Kokrajhar district|Kokrajhar]], [[South Salmara district|South Salmara]], [[Nalbari district|Nalbari]], [[Morigaon district|Morigaon]], [[Sonitpur district|Sonitpur]] and [[Bongaigaon district|Bongaigaon]].<ref name="Dehumanising Muslims in Assam">{{cite web|url=http://asu.thehoot.org/media-watch/media-practice/dehumanising-muslims-in-assam-9661|title=Dehumanising Muslims in Assam|date=23 December 2016|website=thehoot.org|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="web.archive.org"/><ref name="scroll.in">{{cite news |date=20 March 2022 |title=From history to lungis: How this Assam politician is battling for a distinct Miya Muslim identity |url=https://scroll.in/article/1019584/from-history-to-lungis-how-this-assam-politician-is-battling-for-a-distinct-miya-muslim-identity |work=scroll.in}}</ref>

==Language==
In the Presidential address of the 1940 [[Assam Sahitya Sabha]] held at [[Jorhat]]. Dr. Moidul Islam Bora, an Assamese Muslim himself, happily noted that a community leader from the migrant Muslim community had proudly acknowledged the community's firm resolution become the part of mainstream Assamese culture. After the [[Partition of India]], the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]] dissolved the party in Assam and asked the Muslim people to join the Congress.<ref name="zaman"/> The Muslim League leadership proposed that the Muslims should accept the language and culture of the country of their residence.<ref name="zaman"/> Accordingly, the leadership asked the Muslims of Assam to register themselves as Assamese speaking during the census. The leadership also asked the Muslims to identify themselves as Assamese and send their children to [[Assamese language|Assamese]] medium schools.<ref name="zaman"/> As directed by the Muslim League leadership, the migrant Muslims gave up their linguistic identity and adopted Assamese as their language. In the 1951 census, the no. of Assamese speakers in Assam rose to 56.7%.<ref name="zaman"/>

Gradually the Assamese intelligentsia also began to accept the migrant Muslims in the fold of Assamese identity. Benudhar Sharma, President of 1956 [[Assam Sahitya Sabha]] held at [[Dhubri]], felt that the mainstream Assamese people were happy to welcome the internal migrant Muslims into the Assamese fold, just like the [[Koch people|Koch]], [[Kachari people|Kachari]] and [[Ahoms]]. By this time the migrant Muslims began to establish Assamese-medium schools and colleges, attempting to merge themselves into the mainstream of Assamese culture.<ref name="zaman"/> In 1961, the Census Commissioner reported that the Na-Asamiyas were honest in their intent to learn the Assamese language and send their children to Assamese-medium schools. The migrant Muslims thus came to be known as the Na-Asamiyas. To this day, there is not a single [[Bengali language|Bengali]]-medium school in the areas dominated by the Na-Asamiyas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sabrangindia.in/article/all-hindu-consolidation-or-last-battle-protect-assamese-identity-assam-polls-results|title=All Hindu Consolidation or the last battle to protect Assamese Identity: Assam Polls Results|last=Wadud|first=Aman|date=21 May 2016|work=Sabrang|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref>

With the official acceptance of Assamese language and close proximity to [[Goalpariya dialects|Goalpariya speakers]], the Miya have gradually also developed a creole Miya home language. The Miya officially adopted the Assamese language during the language movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indilens.com/518937-east-bengal-rooted-muslim-or-miyah-and-line-system-in-assam-1920/|title=East Bengal rooted Muslim or Miyah and Line System in Assam-1920|date=11 December 2016|website=Indilens.com|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref>{{clarify|date=March 2019}} In formal and official meetings, they are able to switch to Standard Assamese.

== Discrimination==

2. Communal Rights -1950

5. [[Nellie massacre]]-1983

6. Nagabanda , Chaulkhowa massacre- 1983

7. Amtenga , Tuslijora massacre- 1991

8. Bashbari massacre- 1994

9. Naryanguri massacre -2012

10. Udalguri massacre -2008

Thousands of such discrimination can found if it is searched [<ref> https://www.uml.edu/news/stories/2022/dutta-miya-research.aspx Miya People Losing Indian Citizenship, Facing Mass Detentions</ref>]

== Poetry ==
Many scholars from Miya community are trying to uplift the Miya society through poems ('''Miya poetry'''). One of its aims is to reclaim the word "Miya", which is often used pejoratively by non-Muslims.<ref>{{harvp|Baruah|2020 |p=71}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Kanika |year=2020 |chapter=Building a Center for Writing and Communication: Inclusion, Diversity and Writing in the Indian Context |editor-last1=Sanger |editor-first1=Catherine Shea |editor-last2=Gleason |editor-first2=Nancy W. |title=Diversity and Inclusion in Global Higher Education |publisher=Springer Nature |pages=209–227 |isbn=9789811516283 |doi=10.1007/978-981-15-1628-3_8|s2cid=213210614 }}</ref> They have chosen poverty, child marriage, population bomb, illiteracy as their subject. The collection of these poems are termed as Miya poetry. In recent time, due to poetic context, Miya poetry has created a controversy in Assam, especially among its indigenous people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/rights/hafiz-ahmed-assam-miyah-poetry|title=Interview {{!}} There is a Conspiracy to Show Bengal-Origin Muslims as Anti-Assamese: Hafiz Ahmed|website=The Wire|access-date=2019-07-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:আসামের মিঞা কবিতার ইতিহাস, ভূগোল ও দেশপ্রেম |url=https://bengali.indianexpress.com/opinion/assam-miya-poetry-history-politics-identity-135975/ |work=The Indian Express |type=Opinion}}</ref> The movement started with the publication in 2016 of "Write Down, I am a Miya" by [[Hafiz Ahmed]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Baishya |first=Amit R. |date=21 March 2020 |title="Multipartner Mud Dances": The Uneventful Entanglement of Humans and Animals in Two Assamese Poems |magazine=Café Dissensus |issue=4 |url=https://cafedissensus.com/2020/03/21/multipartner-mud-dances-the-uneventful-entanglement-of-humans-and-animals-in-two-assamese-poems/}}</ref> There have been complaints by the media and to police that such poetry is "anti-Assamese" even though it is written in the Assamese language.<ref>{{cite book |last=Zaidi |first=Annie |year=2020 |title=Bread, Cement, Cactus: A Memoir of Belonging and Dislocation |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=59–60 |isbn=9781108840644}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Hafiz Ahmed]] (born 1962), social activist
*[[Osman Ali Sadagar]] (1856–1948), politician and educationist

== See also ==
* [[Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Baruah |first=Sanjib |title=India Against Itself: Assam and the Politics of Nationality |date=1999|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-565840-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Baruah |first=Sanjib |year=2020 |title=In the Name of the Nation: India and Its Northeast |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=9781503611290}}
* {{cite thesis|last=Khandakar|first=Abdullah|year=2016|title=Social Exclusion of Inhabitants of Chars: A Study of Dhubri District in Assam|type=M.Phil. |url=http://14.139.206.50:8080/jspui/bitstream/1/4578/1/Abdullah%20Khandakar.pdf |access-date=10 July 2017}}
* {{cite book |last=Sharma |first=Jayeeta |title=Empire's Garden: Assam and the making of India |publisher=Duke University Press |year=2011 |location=Durham and London |isbn=978-0-8223-5049-1}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Bengali Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian people by ethnic or national origin]]
[[Category:Muslim communities lists]]

Miya people - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article