The Muslim fishing community or the ‘Mahimals’ has
occupied a particular position in the regional society of BarakValley through a long process of historical development. The
Bengali Muslim society as a whole, and the regional Muslim
society of Barak-valley in particular emerged during the
medieval period as a result of migration of a small number of
Muslims from northern India and largely as a result of mass
conversion of local people persuing Hindu, Buddhist and
Animistic beliefs and practices. The Mahimals or Muslim
fishermen as a community consists of converts from Hindu
fishing community of Kaivartas, Patnis and Namashudras.
Though a section of the neo-elite among the Mahimals trace
their origin from the Pathans who had to take shelter in
disguise among the local people after Mughal occupation of
Bengal by dislodging the Pathan rulers thereof or from the socalled Ashraf or Sharif Muslims because of fall from the high
status due to one or the other reason. This is evident from the
fact that even after conversion to Islam and taking up
agricultural and other occupation, the Muslim fishermen or
Mahimals are given a low status in the Muslim society
supposedly because of their traditional association with the
occupation of fishing. With the passage of time and changes in
the ecological set-up due to extension of cultivation to watery
and marshy region, the fishing community took up agricultural
activities mainly as tenants and labourers.