Scope and Challenges of Primary Education among Muslim Community of West Bengal

Abstract

Arabian businessmen established trade links with Indian subcontinent even before the emergence of Islam. Due to their regular interactions with Indian cultural diffusions started taking place. After emergence of Islam, Arabian traders bought Islamic belief to Indian subcontinent. However, Arabian traders or Islamic conquerors never attempted to gain political or administrative control in India, until AD 711. The first successful military invasion of Islam in India was led by Muhhamed ibn Quasim in AD 711. By this time, Muslims had already settled in India. In fact, Muhhamed ibn Quasim found Muslim inhabitants were living in north-western regions of India when he invaded those areas. As on today, More than 10 % of World’s Muslim population lives in India. There are only 4 countries in the world where population of Muslim is more than 100 Million or 10 Crore. India is one of those countries. India is also the only country where Muslims are non-majority in terms of population with such a big population. Other three countries (Indonesia, Pakistan, & Bangladesh) are demographically Muslim majority countries. Around 43 % of Muslims of the world live in these 4 countries. The total Muslim population in India, as recorded in Census 2011, was 17.22 crores which is 14.23 percent of total population. This make them second largest religious group in India after the Hindus and the first major religious minority.