Islam in Mizoram

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

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

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

Muslim Population in Mizoram[9]
Year(Pop.)(%)
1901 202[10]
1951~1,200~0.6
1961~1,500~0.6
19711882[11]0.40
19812,205[12]0.45
19914,538[13]0.66
200110,099[14]1.01
201114,8321.35

Community

The Significant population of muslims in Mizoram are Bengali, Pangals, Assamese and some tribal converts.[7][15][16] They live in northern Mizoram districts of Kolasib and Mamit where there are five mosques.[17]

There is also small community of khasi and Chakma, who follow Islam.[18][19]

Tribal Muslims

Islam among social group of Mizoram, 2011 census[1][20]
  1. Scheduled Tribes (29.0%)
  2. other Muslims (71.0%)
Muslima among Tribe Groups[20]
Tribe NameTotal Muslims
Chakma183
Dimasa Kachari99
Garo20
Hmar142
Any Kuki Tribes205
Any Naga tribes27
Any Mizo (Lushai) tribes3,168
Pawi158
Paite109
Generic Tribes etc.65
All Schedule Tribes4,209

Distribution

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

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]

Educational level of Muslims in Mizoram (Population age 7 and above)
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%

Organisations

  • Mizoram Muslim Welfare Society.[23][24]
  • Aizawl Mosque Committee (AMC).[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Aijal Mosque, established in 1909, is the only mosque in Aizawl and the oldest mosque in Mizoram[4]
  1. 1 2 "C-01: Population by religious community, Mizoram - 2011". Census Department, Government of India. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  2. ↑ 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. 1 2 Chakravarty 2020, p. 89.
  4. ↑ ""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)
  5. ↑ Fanai, Ezrela Dalidia (August 12, 2019). "Muslims offer namaz near church in Christian-majority Mizoram". EastMojo.
  6. ↑ Verghese, C. G. (1997). A History of the Mizos. Vikas Publishing House. p. 26. ISBN 978-81-259-0307-9.
  7. 1 2 "India - ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Mizoram - 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  8. ↑ Gajrani, S. (2004). History, Religion and Culture of India. Gyan Publishing House. p. 239. ISBN 978-81-8205-065-5.
  9. ↑ "POPULATION BY RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES". crsmizo.mizoram.gov.in. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
  10. ↑ Ahmed 2003, p. 235
    Total Muhammadans = 202; Sunnis = 146; Ahl-e-Hadis = 1; Other Muhammadans = 50
  11. ↑ "CENSUS 1971 CENSUS HANDBOOK MIZORAM" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. p. 163. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-05-17. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "AREA AND POPULATION" (PDF). mospi.gov.in. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-12. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  15. ↑ 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
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ Chakravarty 2020, pp. 89, 93.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ Chakravarty 2020, p. 52.
  20. 1 2 India, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner. "Population Census 2011: Table ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Mizoram -". censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  21. ↑ "Mizoram Religion Data - Census 2011". www.census2011.co.in. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  22. ↑ Singh, R. S. (January–March 2018). "Educational Status of Muslims in India". International Journal of Research in Management & Social Science. 6 (1): 12–14. ISSN 2322-0899.
  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
  24. ↑ "The Mizoram Gazette" (PDF). mizoramassembly.in. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-04-12. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  25. ↑ "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.
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