A STUDY ON MOSQUES AND DARGAHS IN BARAK VALLEY: THE MYTH AND REALITY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CUSTOMARY LAWS

In North East India, a varied number of tribes and non-tribes live. They have their own distinct cultures, own social customs, religious beliefs, own languages, own traditional dress, complexes, and social trends. The history of Muslims of Barak Valley is important for a comprehensive history of Assam. From the ancient times, Muslims believe that Mosques and Dargahs as religious institutions and the customary laws play an important role in Mosques and Dargahs of Barak Valley. Customary law is not a judicial law but it is also an art of society and local administration. The present study attempts to understand the religious institutions in the Barak Valley is a simple Islamic doctrine of peace, equality, fraternity, and common brotherhood and their disciples demonstrated in public and practiced in their social life. Mosques and Dargahs are religious institutions and customary to man and materials to accomplish a purpose. As we know, when people live together, social problems arise in society. The activities of man in society are to be properly organized and managed. Without proper organization and management, it would become difficult for men to live together. Mosques and Dargahs are therefore a necessary activity of religious human grouping. It is called the technology of social relationships. It involves customary law and rational organization of man and material. The administrative framework of Mosques and Dargahs of Barak Valley is based on democratic principles. The administration runs by the involvement of the concerned committee on democratic setup. Every Mosques and Dargahs has a managing committee to look after all affairs of the institutions. The committee headed by a President and a Secretaryto look after all the required affairs for the development and smooth functioning of the administration.