I Am 'Miya' — Reclaiming Identity Through Protest Poetry | Karwan e Mohabbat
‘Miya’ poetry is a reclaiming of one’s Muslim identity by the Bengali-origin Muslims of Assam; protest poetry that rebels against subjugation and oppression. 'Miya' is an Urdu word that means 'gentleman', but it has become a slur in Assam and is used as a term of abuse. Poets and activists from the Bengali Muslim community have found a way to take the derogatory term 'Miya' and subvert it. Miya poetry seeks answers to the questions of belonging and citizenship. It echoes the fears of a community threatened by exclusion from the NRC — the National Register of Citizens.
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