Islam in West Bengal

According to the 2011 Census of India, the West Bengal state has over 24.6 million Bengali Muslims,[2] who form 27.01% of the state's population.[3] Bengali Muslims form the majority of the population in three districts: Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur.[4]

Muslims in West Bengal
Total population
24,654,825 (2011)[1]
27.01% of Population
Regions with significant populations
Majority in Murshidabad with 66.2%, Maldah with 51.3%, Uttar dinajpur with 50% as of 2011. Highest concentration in Birbhum with 37%, South 24 Parganas with 35.6%, Cooch Behar with 25.54% as of 2011.
Languages
Bengali and Urdu

Zohora Begum Mosque in Kolkata

Population
Historical Muslim Population
YearPop.±%
1901 3,954,776—    
1911 2,955,098−25.3%
1921 4,101,516+38.8%
1931 4,521,313+10.2%
1941 5,506,442+21.8%
1951 5,102,330−7.3%
1961 6,915,348+35.5%
1971 9,083,963+31.4%
1981 11,743,209+29.3%
1991 16,050,000+36.7%
2001 20,240,543+26.1%
2011 24,654,825+21.8%
Source: [5]

The Bengali Muslim population in West Bengal just after 1947 partition was around 12%.[6] After partition of Bengal in 1947, some Bengali Muslims from West Bengal immigrated to East Pakistan, (Present-Day-Bangladesh). However, Muslim populations of several West Bengal districts did actually grow between 1941-1951, despite the migration to East Pakistan of two-thirds of a million persons.[7] According to 2011 census, the Muslim population in West Bengal is over 24,654,825 comprising 27.01% of the state population. The current mayor of Kolkata is also Muslim.

Population by district
Muslims in West Bengal by district (2011)[2]
#DistrictTotal populationMuslim population%
1Murshidabad7,103,8074,707,57366.88%
2South 24 Parganas8,161,9612,903,07535.57%
3North 24 Parganas10,009,7812,584,68425.82%
4Malda3,988,8452,045,15151.27%
5Bardhaman7,717,5631,599,76420.73%
6Uttar Dinajpur3,007,1341,501,17049.92%
7Nadia5,167,6001,382,68226.76%
8Birbhum3,502,4041,298,05437.06%
9Howrah4,850,0291,270,64126.20%
10Kolkata4,496,694926,41420.60%
11Hooghly5,519,145870,20415.77%
12Purba Medinipur5,095,875743,43614.59%
13Cooch Behar2,819,086720,03325.54%
14Paschim Medinipur5,913,457620,55410.49%
15Jalpaiguri3,872,846445,81711.51%
16Dakshin Dinajpur1,676,276412,78824.63%
17Bankura3,596,674290,4508.08%
18Purulia2,930,115227,2497.76%
19Darjeeling1,846,823105,0865.69%
##West Bengal (Total)91,276,11524,654,82527.01%

Growth rate

West Bengal had high growth in the Muslim population at 1.94 when compared to the rest of the country.[4]

Trends in Muslim population of West Bengal after Partition[8][5]
Census year% of total populationDecadal growthIncrease

195119.85%27.26%

-6.33%

196120%36.48%+0.15%
197120.46%29.76%+0.46%
198121.51%29.55%+1.05%
199123.61%36.89%+2.1%
200125.25%25.91%+1.64%
201127.01%21.80%+1.76%
Trends in Muslim population of West Bengal before Partition[5]
Census year% of total populationDecadal growthIncrease
190125.98%NANA
191126.31%NANA
192126.07%NANA
193126.65%NANA
194126.18%NANA

Projections

According to 2011 census, there were around 24.6 million Muslims living in West Bengal (2011 census), nearly 19 million are native Bengali-speaking Muslims constituting overall 77% of total Muslim population in the state and are mainly concentrated in rural areas and of them, more than 25 lakh are said to be illegal migrants from Bangladesh. The legal Muslim migrants from other states of India live particularly in Kolkata and other Urban areas of West Bengal.[9] Due to high fertility rate among West Bengal Muslims and illegal immigration from Bangladesh, the percentage of Muslim population is approximately doubling in a span of 100 years (starting from 19% in 1951 to a projection of 40% in 2061), if the total fertility rate and illegal immigration of Muslims from Bangladesh continues.[10]

Notable Bengali Muslims

Kolkata

Malda

Murshidabad

Hooghly

Burdwan

South 24 Parganas

See also

References
  1. Census of India - Religious Composition
  2. Population by religious community: West Bengal. 2011 Census of India.
  3. "Census 2011 shows Islam is the fastest growing religion in India". Mint. 26 August 2015.
  4. Saibal Sen (26 August 2015). "Bengal beats India in Muslim growth rate".
  5. Nahid Kamal. "The Population Trajectories of Bangladesh and West Bengal During the Twentieth Century: A Comparative Study" (PDF).
  6. http://www.newdelhitimes.com/demographic-changes-is-bengal-sitting-on-a-volcano
  7. The Demographic Impact of Partition: Bengal in 1947.
  8. B.P. Syam Roy (28 September 2015). "Bengal's topsy-turvy population growth". The Statesman. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016.
  9. https://www.s/swarajyamag.com/amp/story/politics%252Fbangladeshis-and-not-gorkhas-pose-an-existential-threat-to-bengalis
  10. https://www.myind.net/Home/viewArticle/demographic-warning-west-bengal
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