Source: – @porbotialora / Twitter.
Barak Valley (also known as Cachar) comprises of three districts – Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj.
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 14, 2019
It makes up South Assam and is the 2nd largest Valley of the state after the Brahmaputra Valley. pic.twitter.com/HNv82AjL8l
During the time of partition, Cachar included Cachar, Hailakandi and Dima Hasao District while Karimganj was part of Sylhet division.
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 14, 2019
The percentage of Muslims in the 3 districts combined (Cachar, Hailkandi and Dima Hasao) has risen from 36.33% to 40.5% (Dima Hasao is 2.04%) pic.twitter.com/RIUsERJpah
Abdul Matlib Mazumdar played a big role in retaining Barak. He wrested the crucial Muslim majority Hailakandi seat from the Muslim League in favour of Congress. It was at a time when even Muslim Congress candidates were losing miserably to Muslim League.
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 14, 2019
As per the 2011 census, Barak's population was 3,624,599
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 14, 2019
1,744,958 were Muslims (48.14%)
Hindus were 1,812,141 (49.99%), Christians 1.6% (58,675), and others 0.2%.
Cachar was 59.83% Hindu, Muslims 37.71% (Silchar 86.31% Hindu, 12.17% Muslim)
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 14, 2019
Hailakandi was 38.10% Hindu, 60.31% Muslim
Karimganj was 42.48% Hindu, 56.36% Muslim
I'm trying to find some statistics on the 2011 census of the 3 districts on languages by number of speakers.
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 14, 2019
Hailkandi is 68.71% Bengali/Sylheti speaking. Rest speakers divided among various groups like Hindi, Manipuri, and various tribal communities.
Exact calculation is hard since languages like Hajong, Chakma and Kamatapuri are somehow classified under the Bengali/Sylheti group.
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 14, 2019
From my estimates, most non-Bengalis reside in the Cachar district. pic.twitter.com/u8iP4B4gOu
Assuming that nearly all Muslims are Bengali speaking (there is a small Manipuri Muslim community too), the breakdown becomes
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 14, 2019
48.14% Muslims (mostly Bengali speaking), 26% Hindus (Bengali), 24% Hindus (Non-Bengali), 1.8% Christians (tribals), and remaining others.
Majority of the Bengalis in the Valley are Muslims (60%-65%) and the Hindu population is about equally split between Bengalis and non Bengalis.
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 14, 2019
Since groups like Hajongs who are ~100% Hindu, it may be assumed share of ethnic Bengalis among Hindus may be slightly lower. pic.twitter.com/L90Agqo5M8
I found census data from 2001.
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 15, 2019
As 74.62% of the Valley's population was classified as speakers of Bengali and 45.47% of the population was Muslim, it can be assumed ~60% of the Bengali population is Muslim.
53.45% of the Non-Muslim population was classified as Bengali speaking. pic.twitter.com/TViTW1XhC8
In 1851, Meiteis were 12.5% of the Valley's population
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) March 16, 2019
By 2011, they had fallen to 3.5% pic.twitter.com/l0OdYei8J8
Demography of Sylhet as per the 1941 census and the 1947 referendum outcome. pic.twitter.com/yeSg5YoFC9
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) May 12, 2019
As per the 1872 census, Cachar was
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) May 14, 2019
62.54% Hindu
36.26% Muslim
0.2% Christian
1% Other
Of this, various groups had composition
Hindu Bengalis 22.73%
Muslim Bengalis 36.36%
Manipuri Hindus 11.36% (Meitei?)
Manipuri Muslims 2.27%
Hill tribes 13.63%
Hindustanis 13.63% pic.twitter.com/xJYWV0lvaZ
It's interesting to note that the share of Muslims in the undivided Cachar district (Cachar, Dima Hasao, Hailakandi) barely rose between 1872-1941, a period of 70 years.
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) May 14, 2019
1872 36.26%
1941 36.33%
2011 40.49%
"The Sylhet Referendum (1947): Myth of a Communal Voting"
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) September 6, 2019
– J.B. Bhattacharjee
Share in electorate
Muslims 56.93%
Hindus 43.07%
Turnout
Muslims 76.89%
Hindus 72.23%
Result
East Bengal 56.55%
Assam 43.44% pic.twitter.com/dgfzcOi42l
80-90% Hindus in all parts of the district voted for remaining in Assam, except Habiganj where 39% voted for East Bengal instead.
— ꯃꯥꯀꯨ (@porbotialora) December 14, 2019
South Sylhet (Maulvibazar) voted for remaining in Assam while others voted against. pic.twitter.com/3UQb5Sbs7w
