By Express News Service
GUWAHATI: Assam’S Goalpara administration on Tuesday sealed a private museum that was inaugurated two days ago for showcasing culture of migrant Muslims in the state. Sources said Miya Museum was set up at a Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) house in Lakhipur and was sealed as per the directions of the district authorities. The term ‘Miya’ refers to a descendent of migrant Bengali Muslims who make up around one-third of the population in Assam.
An organisation called Miya Parishad had inaugurated the museum to showcase and preserve the culture of the migrant Muslims. However, it wasn’t received well as some viewed it as a threat to the indigenous culture. BJP’s Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan requested the state government to bring down the museum while his party colleague and former Hojai legislator Shiladitya Dev called for action against those behind its establishment.
Breaking his silence on Tuesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a probe has been ordered to look into the museums’ funding. He said the museum was a reflection of the culture and heritage of the Assamese as all items, barring “lungi”, showcased had been traditionally used by the Assamese.
He said those behind the museum’s establishment would have to give an explanation to the government on the items showcased. He indicated legal action against them. “We had Miya poetry, then Miya school and now, Miya museum. These are not good signs for the Assamese society,” he said, adding, “I have always spoken about these challenges but many people criticized me.”
Two years ago, suspended Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed had ruffled quite a few feathers by proposing a museum reflecting the culture and heritage of people living on “char-chaporis” (sandbars) on the premises of Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati. Sarma had outright rejected the idea.
A section of the migrant Muslims in Assam lives on the sandbars. The police on Tuesday evening detained Miya Parishad president Mohor Ali in connection with a case linked to terror groups Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent and Ansarullah Bangla Team.
Not good signs for Assamese society: CM Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a probe has been ordered into the museum’s funding. He said those behind its establishment would have to give an explanation to the government on the items showcased. “We had Miya poetry, then Miya school and now, Miya museum. These are not good signs for the Assamese society,” he said.
GUWAHATI: Assam’S Goalpara administration on Tuesday sealed a private museum that was inaugurated two days ago for showcasing culture of migrant Muslims in the state. Sources said Miya Museum was set up at a Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) house in Lakhipur and was sealed as per the directions of the district authorities. The term ‘Miya’ refers to a descendent of migrant Bengali Muslims who make up around one-third of the population in Assam.
An organisation called Miya Parishad had inaugurated the museum to showcase and preserve the culture of the migrant Muslims. However, it wasn’t received well as some viewed it as a threat to the indigenous culture. BJP’s Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan requested the state government to bring down the museum while his party colleague and former Hojai legislator Shiladitya Dev called for action against those behind its establishment.
Breaking his silence on Tuesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a probe has been ordered to look into the museums’ funding. He said the museum was a reflection of the culture and heritage of the Assamese as all items, barring “lungi”, showcased had been traditionally used by the Assamese.
He said those behind the museum’s establishment would have to give an explanation to the government on the items showcased. He indicated legal action against them. “We had Miya poetry, then Miya school and now, Miya museum. These are not good signs for the Assamese society,” he said, adding, “I have always spoken about these challenges but many people criticized me.”
Two years ago, suspended Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed had ruffled quite a few feathers by proposing a museum reflecting the culture and heritage of people living on “char-chaporis” (sandbars) on the premises of Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati. Sarma had outright rejected the idea.
A section of the migrant Muslims in Assam lives on the sandbars. The police on Tuesday evening detained Miya Parishad president Mohor Ali in connection with a case linked to terror groups Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent and Ansarullah Bangla Team.
Not good signs for Assamese society: CM
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a probe has been ordered into the museum’s funding. He said those behind its establishment would have to give an explanation to the government on the items showcased. “We had Miya poetry, then Miya school and now, Miya museum. These are not good signs for the Assamese society,” he said.
