Social life in char area: A study of neo-Assamese Muslim village in Brahmaputra valley of Assam

The Neo-Assamese Muslims or the immigrant Muslims of the char area (or reverine islands) of Brahmaputra Valley of Assam constitute an important segment of the total population of Assam. As a social group of contemporary Assamese society they are often at the centre of many controversial issues mostly with respect to the question of survival of identity of Assamese speaking people of Assam as a majority community. However, very little is known about the socio-cultural and politico-economic life of this community. An attempt is made in this paper to investigate their position in the making of a larger Assamese speaking community. Also there is an attempt to examine their social structure in terms of continuity and change. The role of economy, ecology and politics in the oppressive and marginalised social existence of this group of people in larger Assamese society is also examined.