Photo by Anju Azad, text by Kashif-ul-Huda
A Muslim man purchasing chicken at the Dimapur market. Dimapur, has one of the largest proportion of non-Nagas in Nagaland.
According to the 2001 census, Muslims are merely 1.76% of Nagaland population. 1991 census puts them at 1.71% of the state population. 2001 census counts 35,005 Muslims in the state, up from 1991’s 20,642.
Muslims, mostly from Assam, run shops in Dimapur, the biggest commercial hub of the State and the capital, Kohima. They are involved in the manual work, construction, taxis, rickshaws, and cultivation. They speak Assamese and Bangla dialects.
A Muslim girl Benazir Ali won Miss Dimapur 2007 beauty pageant contest, last year.
Muslim Council Dimapur (MCD) and Kohima Masjid Committee (KMC) are two of the important Musllim organizations of the state.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagaland
http://nagaland.nic.in/