Professional Documents
Culture Documents
26 September - 2010
Orissa Review
nor orthodox Muslims. In spite Scent etc. were introduced by began in 16h century C.E.
of opposition, assimilation did the Muslims. Samputas food during Hussain Shahi dynasty
take place. Purdah or veil like Biriani, Palau, Chapati, (1494-1538). In Orissa
system, seclusion of women Jalebi, Halwa and other meat Satyapir worship became
folk was intr oduced preparation are of Muslim popular in 18th century C.E.
elaborately. In case, they influence. Many places in Islam gave Orissa the message
moved outside they used Orissa were renamed by of universal brotherhood,
palanquins covered with Muslim in their own which are equality in society, outrightly
curtains. We have reference of still in use by present people in rejected caste system and
the queen of Raja Rudra Pratap Orissa viz Rasulgarh, Rasulpur, untouchability. These principles
of Puri who used to visit Sri Ahmad Nagar, Mohamme- consciously or unconsciously
Chaitanya in covered dpura, etc. had a great impression upon the
palanquins. Muslims adopted philosophical Hindu mind and
local habits of eating and Religion : found place in Jagannath cult.
drinking. A number of social
taboos and rest riction In the pre-Muslim The pre-Islamic
regarding caste among the period Hinduism in its various practice in Orissa of the Babas,
Hindus helped Islam to creeds and for ms was Gurus, Sanyasis, and Bairagis
attracting lower section of manifested in the construction helped sympathetic period for
society. Missionary zeal of of many temples. All religious the acceptance of Muslim
Islam also helped spread the thinking and spiritual attainment equivalents of the Satyapirs.
new religion. It was not liked gathered a form of synthesis The shrines of Bhujakhiapir at
by the orthodox Hindus in under the institution of Lord Balasore, Qadam-i-Rasool at
Orissa. Due to the impact of Jagannath. The concept of Cuttack, Noor Bibi Mazaar at
Islam, chastity of women Patitapaban, it is believed, Sambalpur, Abdul Sakoor
valued, the custom of Jauhar developed as a result of Muslim shrine at Tarbha are the centres
and Sati were restricted. influence. Muslim migration to of spiritual solace for the
Orissa continued after its people of Orissa. These saints
In custom, manner, conquest and they exploited were very popular amongst the
dress, etiquette, food and the liberal social set up of Orissa masses. The members of the
ceremony Islam left permanent and managed to set up their order were called Fakir,
mark in the society of Orissa. own religious places, like mendicant or dervishes. Some
Po pular dresses like Mosque, Madrassa, Maqtab, of the ceremonies and rituals
Archakan, Salwar, Jama, Tomb and Shrines. first at which came with Islam were
Paijama, Rumal, Shawl, Cuttack and later on other regarded as auspicious and
Takia, etc, are of Muslim origin. places of Orissa. which were gladly accepted by
Fruits like, Kishmis, Pesta, the Oriyas. One example is
Badam, Angur, Annar, etc Satyapir cult became Tajia or Muharram procession.
were brought to Orissa by the popular in Orissa due to the Some of these were sponsored
Muslims. Ornaments like influence of Muslim. Common by local elite. The concept of
Bajuband and Kamarband, worship of the common folk of Nirakar is not new to Orissa but
the use of Paper, Pen, and the two communities- Satyapir it had its echo in the writing of
September - 2010 27
Orissa Review
28 September - 2010
Orissa Review
used the work in their Kavya B.C. Roy, Orissa under the R.D. Banerji, History of Orissa, R.
or poems. Orissan society Mughals. Punthi Pustak, Culcutta, Chatterjee, Culcutta, 1930.
1981.
reflected a sense of hospitality
to the strangers which deserves C.L. Fabri, History of the Art of
Orissa, Orient Longman, Bombay,
merits. Culturally, Islam had its 1974.
unique and remarkable
H. K. Mahatab, History of Orissa,
contribution. It brought some Lucknow, 1949.
new idea and some new
J. Sarkar, History of Aurangzeb,
problems, but left a legacy, that
M.C. Sarkar, Calcutta, 1924
is successfully utilized by the
M. Yamin, Impact of Islam on
succeeding generation for ever.
Orissan Culture, Readworthy, New
Delhi, 2009. Dr. Mohammed Yamin is the Head,
Bibliography :
M. A. Haque, Muslim Deptt. of History, C.J.D. College,
B. Acharya, Oriya Sahityara Administration in Orissa 1568- Borda, Kalahandi- 766036, e-mail
Itihasa, (Oriya), Cuttack, 1969. 151, Punthi Pustak, Calcutta, 1980. mail2mdyamin@yahoo.co.in
September - 2010 29