Contribution of Assamese Muslims towards shaping Assamese society discussed

Dibrugarh, Dec 25: A discussion on ‘Assamese Muslims are an indispensable part of the Assamese society’ was organized by the Centre for Islamic Studies (CIS), Dibrugarh, on Sunday. The event kicked off with the recitation of the Quran – holy book of Islam. It was followed by the release of the annual publication of the CIS titled Anubhuti, which was done by noted litterateur and vice-president of Axam Xahitya Xabha, Prahlad Chandra Tasa. Referring to a picture in the publication that contains the image of a church, mosque and a Shiva Dol, Tasa held that the picture carried the message of peaceful co-existence and pluralism present in Assam. Eminent intellectual and writer, Mashud-ul-Haque, while addressing the gathering, spoke on the contribution of Assamese Muslims towards shaping the Assamese society.

Gracing the event as its chief speaker, Assistant Professor of History at the Dibrugarh University, Chandan Kumar Sharma stressed the importance of inter-faith harmony with respect to the development of social life. He categorically stated that to be a good Hindu, one should follow the path adopted by Mahatma Gandhi and not Viyak Damodar Savarkar, and in order to be a good Muslim, one should model his life on the lines of the principles of Maula Abdul Kalam Azad, not Mohammad Ali Jinh. Sharma also asserted the need to lead one’s life based on the teachings of Srimanta Shankardev and Azan Pir if their exalted values had to be preserved for eternity.

Senior jourlist Ikbal Ahmed, who moderated the discussion, in his speech clarified that the term Assamese Muslim was not just confined to Gorias and Morias of the State. He held that many groups including the Borbhuyans, Choudharys and Laskars of Cachar, and the Jolas, Desis and Ujonis, Duli, Datiya of Goalpara, were equally indigenous to this land. These groups, as culturally or linguistically diverse as they may be, assimilated into the Assamese culture and became an integral part of it with time, Ahmed said.