The present public report was visualized four years ago. ‘Living Realities of Muslims in
West Bengal: A Report’ on the Status of Muslims in West Bengal as to fulfil of that requirement
– long overdue. We are very happy that the enthusiasm and very hard work of some scholars
and activists of the state well supported by academics of national and international repute has
finally brought forth this report. The Preliminary Public Report was published on 31 May 2014
by the poet Shankha Ghosh at Indian Science Congress Conference Hall, Kolkata. Now this full
report comes forth that presents some centrally important aspects of the Muslims of West
Bengal –with geographical, economic and social variations as well as some intrinsic
commonness. A large number of young men and women volunteered to collect the data,
hundreds of enthusiasts extended generous financial help, and many hundreds supplied the
team much required interactive and moral support. We are grateful to all of them. We believe
that the hard work of the scholars, activists and others would help advance the cause of social
justice and practice of democracy by bringing public attention to a long neglected subject that is
the socio-economic condition of the Muslims of West Bengal and the interconnections
underlying the phenomenon.