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 | edit source]
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][4]
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 | edit source]
Muslims in Mizoram celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the high school ground in Zarkawt, Aizawl, which is 15 minutes away from the Aijwal Mosque.[lower-alpha 1] The ground is near a church, showing harmony between the Christians and Muslims of Mizoram.[6][7][8]
Quran is also Translated in Mizo languages.[9]
Demographics[edit | edit source]
| Year | (Pop.) | (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | ~1,200 | ~0.6 |
| 1961 | ~1,500 | ~0.6 |
| 1971 | 1,200 | 0.40 |
| 1981 | 1,500 | 0.35 |
| 1991 | 2,000 | 0.30 |
| 2001 | 10,000 | 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[11][12][13] and there is also small community of khasi people who follow Islam.[14]
Muslim population by district[edit | edit source]
| District[16] | 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 |
Muslim population by Tribal Groups[edit | edit source]
| 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 | edit source]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chakravarty 2020, p. 89.
- ↑ Gabriel Khongsai (2025-09-07). "From Hill Warriors to Sepoys: The Induction of Nagas, Lushais (Mizos), And Kukis into the British Colonial Army". International Journal of Multi-disciplinary. 4 (5): 23–8. doi:10.5281/ZENODO.17071219. ISSN 2583-7397.
After the Indian Revolt of 1857, which exposed the vulnerabilities of relying on large numbers of high-caste Hindu and Muslim sepoys from the Bengal Army, the British restructured their recruitment strategy.
- ↑ ""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) - ↑ 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.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 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.
- ↑ 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. Archived from the original on 2025-11-18. Retrieved 2025-11-18.