Journal of Global Resources
Volume 6 (01)August 2019-January 2020
Page 165-169
UGC–CARE Listed Journal in Group DISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

26
DISPARITY IN LITERACY OF MUSLIM POPULATION IN RAJASTHAN STATE,INDIA: A SPATIAL ANALYSIS
Nafeesa Kayamkhani1 and Shagufta Saify2
Research Scholar, Department of Geography,Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
2
Assistant Professor (Geography), Govt. College Jhadol, (Udaipur) Rajasthan, India
Email: nafisakayamkhani@gmail.com, rangshagufta@gmail.com
1Abstract: Literacy is one of the important demographic elements, which acts as a catalyst forsocial upliftment enhancing the returns on investments made in almost every aspects ofdevelopment efforts, be it population control, health, hygiene, empowerment of women andweaker sections of the society. The present paper aims to study the rural-urban disparity ofliteracy of Muslim Population in Rajasthan. For the measurement of disparity in literacy ofMuslim Population using Sopher’s Disparity Index (1974 employed). The study results that thetotal literacy rate of Muslim population is 62.67 percent where the total literacy rate of state is66.10 percent. Urban Muslims literacy rate is higher than rural in the state of Rajasthan.
Key words: Disparities, Literacy, Muslims, Rural, Urban
Introduction
According to the primary census of India, 2011 “A person aged 7 years and above who canboth read and write with understanding in any language was taken as literate. A person, whocan only read but cannot write, is not literate.” ‘Literacy is the ability to identify, understand,interpret, create, communicate and compute using printed and written materials associated withvarying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve
his or her goals, develop his or her knowledge and potential and participate fully in community
and wider society’ (UNESCO). Educational backwardness of Indian Muslims should beattributed not to any 'religious fanaticism' or 'minority complex' but to the small size of themiddle class whose members can be expected to seek educational opportunities (Ahmed,1981). Lack of adequate number of schools and infrastructural facilities in the Muslim
dominated areas is the major cause of educational backwardness of this community (GOI,2006). ‘IQRA’ the first word of Holy Quran word refers to the process of Reading. The Prime
Minister’s High Level Committee (Sachar Committee) on the Social, Economic and Educational
Status of the Muslim Community of India was set up in March 2005 with the main objective ofassessing the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in the states, regions,districts and blocks they live in, their livelihood activities, their levels of socio-economic
development and asset base and income levels relative to other groups. The Report of theCommittee, submitted in 2006, has become a landmark in documenting the social, economicand educational status of Muslims. “The mechanisms to ensure equity and equality ofopportunity to bring about inclusion should be such that diversity is achieved and at the sametime the perception of discrimination is eliminated. This is only possible when the importance ofMuslims as an intrinsic part of the diverse Indian social mosaic is squarely recognized” (SCR,p. 238).
Objectives
 To calculate the total literacy rate of Muslim Population in Rajasthan.
 To examine sex wise rural-urban literacy rate of Muslim Population of Rajasthan.
 To analyze the rural-urban disparities in Literacy of Muslim Population in term of total
literacy, sex wise literacy in Rajasthan.
Data and Methods
The present paper is entirely based on the secondary sources of data collected from Census ofIndia publication and Statistical Abstract of Rajasthan, 2011. Literacy rate has been calculated
by using the following formula:165

Number of Literates
Literacy Rate = --------------------------------- X 100
Total Population Age 7+

For the measurement of rural-urban disparity in literacy of Muslim Population, Sopher’s
Disparity Index (1974) modified by Kundu and Rao (1983) has been employed:
Ds = log (X2 / X1) + log (200 –X1) / (200 – X2)
X2 is considered for Urban and X1 for rural literacy rates.
District wise disparity in Muslim’s literacy has been shown by Choropleth maps.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Total Literacy Rate of Muslim Population in Rajasthan 2011
Literacy level of Muslims differs from one district to another and from one geographical region
to another. As per Table 1 the three southern districts Dungarpur, Banswara and Udaipur hasvery high level of literacy rate in term of Muslim population. Whereas the western three districts
that touch international boundary has the lowest rate of Muslim literacy. As per above
discussion: 1). the distribution of Muslim population and the total literacy rate of Muslim shows
negative correlation. The western districts having the highest Muslim population shows thelowest rate of Muslim Literacy and vise-versa. 2). As we move from south- east part of theRajasthan to western side the literacy rate of Muslim population is found declined.
Table 01: Total Muslim Literacy Rate of Muslim Population in Rajasthan-2011#Name of Districts Under the category
Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur
Sirohi, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Chittogarh, Baran, Kota,Jhalawar, Pratapgarh, Bundi, Jaipur
3.
Moderate
58-68
Pali, , Nagaur, Ajmer, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur,Dholpur, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Tonk, Karauli
4.
Low
48-58Jodhpur, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Churu, Ganganagar,Alwar, Bharatpur.
5.
Very low
Below 48
Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jalor
Source: Calculated from census of Rajasthan, 2011
1.
2.

Category
Very HighHigh

Literacy Rate (%)
Above 78
68-78

Rural-Urban Literacy Rate of Muslim Population in Rajasthan-2011
Urban literacy level is high in the state of Rajasthan as compared to rural literacy. There are
five districts which have higher literacy level than state average urban literacy level. As
compared to the rural literacy among Muslims in the state, the urban Muslim literacy rate ismuch better due to awareness, easy access and the facilities are good in cities.
Table 02: Urban Literacy Rate of Muslim Population in Rajasthan-2011#1.
2.

CategoryVery HighHigh

Literacy Rate (%)
Above 8173-81

Name of Districts Under the category
Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, Rajsamand Pratapgarh
Sirohi, Bhilwara, Chittogarh,, Baran, Kota, Jhalawar,
Bundi
3.
Moderate
66-73
Pali, Jalor, Ajmer, Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur,Dholpur,
4.
Low
61-66
Jodhpur ,Jaisalmer, Barmer, Nagaur, Sikar, Jhunjhunu,Ganganagar, Alwar, Tonk
5.
Very low
Below 61
Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Churu, Bharatpur, Dhaulpur
Source: Calculated from census of Rajasthan, 2011

According to the census 2011 urban literacy rate was very high (Above 81 percent) inDungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, Rajsamand Pratapgarh (Table 2) and very low (Below 61percent) in Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Churu, Bharatpur, Dhaulpur (Fig 1). In 2011 rural literacy
rate was very high (Above 71 percent) in Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, Baran, Kota (Table 3)
and very low (Below 43 percent) in Bikaner, Jodhpur Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jalor (Fig.1). Rural aswell as urban literacy rate of Muslim population is higher in southern districts of the state.
Banswara gets the highest position in the state with 87.66 percent as urban literacy rate and83.04 rural literacy rates (Fig.1). It is due to high rate of Muslim male migration towards gulf
countries and remittance uplift the economic condition of the Muslims and initiates theestablishment of private schools organized by the community people.
166

Figure 01: Muslim Literacy Population, 2011

Table 03: Rural Literacy Rate of Muslim Population in Rajasthan-2011#1.
2.

CategoryVery HighHigh

Literacy Rate (%)
Above 71
62-71

3.

Moderate

55-62

4.
5.

low
Very low

43-55
Below 43

Name of Districts Under the category
Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur , Baran, Kota
Sirohi, Bhilwara, Chittogarh, Tonk, Jhalawar,
Rajsamand , Pratapgarh, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Bundi
Pali, Ajmer, Nagaur, Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur,Dholpur, Karauli, , Churu
Ganganagar, Alwar, Bharatpur, Hanumangarh,Bikaner, Jodhpur Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jalor

Source: Calculated from census of Rajasthan, 2011

Sex wise Rural-Urban Literacy Rate
In term of rural–urban male literacy, southern districts that is in Udaipur, Banswara, Dungarpur,
Pratapgarh, Baran, Rajsamand and Kota shows highest rate. Whereas the central desert
region followed by northern part of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Sikar, Jhunjhunun,Jaipur, Alwar shows low literacy rate. The gap between rural – urban literacy rates for male isfound 4 percent. The economic backwardness, difficult accessibility, scarcity of transportationis the main reason behind it.
Table 04: Rural Male Literacy Rate 2011#.
1.

Category
Very Low

Range of Population (%)
Below 61.0

2.
3.

Low
Moderate61.0 to 71.0
71.0 to 78.0

4.

High

78.0 to 85.0

5. Very High85.0 & Above
Source: Calculated from census of Rajasthan, 2011

167

Name of Districts under the Category
Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer,Jodhpur, Jalor,Hanumangarh, Bharatpur,Churu, Nagaur, Pali, Jaipur, Alwar, Dausa,Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Dhaulpur
Jhunjhunun, Sikar, Ajmer, Rajsamand,
Bhilwara, Barmer, Chittaurgarh, Dungarpur,Pratapgarh, Bundi, Jhalawar
Udaipur, Bnaswara, Baran, Kota

Table 05: Urban Male Literacy Rate 2011
#Category

Range of Population (%)

1.

Very Low

Below 74.0

2.

Low

74.0 to 79.0

3.
4.

Moderate
High79.0 to 84.0
84.0 to 89.0

5.

Very High89.0 & Above

Name of Districts under the Category
Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Churu,
Bharatpur, Karauli, Dhaulpur, Tonk
Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Sikar,
Jhunjhunun, Jaipur, Alwar
Jalor, Pali, Ajmer, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur
Bhilwara, Bundi, Chittaurgarh, Kota, Baran,Jhalawar
Sirohi, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Dungarpur,
Banswara, Pratapgarh

Source: Calculated from census of Rajasthan, 2011

Table 06: Rural Female Literacy Rate 2011
#1.
2.
3.

Category
Very Low
Low
Moderate

4.

High

Range of Population (%)
Below 29.0
29.0 to 38.0
38.0 to 48.0

48.0 to 57.0

5.
Very High57.0 & Above
Source: Calculated from census of Rajasthan, 2011

Name of Districts under the Category
Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Jalor,
Ganganagar, Alwar, Bharatpur,Hanumangarh, Churu, Nagaur, Pali,Rajsamand, Ajmer, Jaipur, Tonk, Dausa,
Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Dhaulpur
Jhunjhunun, Sikar, Sirohi, Bhilwara,Chittaurgarh, Bundi, Pratapgarh, Jhalawar
Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara, Kota, Baran

Table 07: Urban Female Literacy Rate 2011
#1.

Category
Very Low

Range of Population (%)
Below 48.0

2.

Low

48.0 to 52.03.

Moderate

52.0 to 61.0

4.

High

61.0 to 73.0

5.

Very High73.0 & Above

Name of Districts under the Category
Churu, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Alwar, Bharatpur,
Karauli
Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunun,Sikar, Nagaur, Barmer, Dhaulpur
Jodhpur, Pali, Jalor, Jaipur, Tonk, Dausa,
Sawai Madhopur
Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh, Bundi, Kota,Baran, Sirohi
Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara,
Pratapgarh, Jhalawar

Source: Calculated from census of Rajasthan, 2011

The gap between rural – urban literacy rates for female is found around 13 percent.
Western part of Rajasthan shows very low rural – urban female literacy rate. In Churu, Bikaner,Jaisalmer, Alwar, Bharatpur and Karauli also shows very low urban female literacy rate.
Highest rural – urban female literacy rate calculated in Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara, Kota,Baran, Rajsamand, Pratapgarh and Jhalawar.
Rural-Urban Disparity of Muslim Literacy
The urban-rural differential in Muslim literacy is marked with notable variation in its distribution
among the districts of Rajasthan state. The only Four districts (Jaisalmer, Jodhpur Barmer,Jalor) have much higher general rural-urban disparity higher than that in Rajasthan and verylow (Table 8) in Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Karauli, Dhaulpur.
Table 08: Rural-Urban Disparity of Muslim Literacy 2011
#Category

Range of Population (%) Name of Districts under the Category

1.

Very Low

Below -0.01

Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Karauli, Dhaulpur

2.

Low

-0.01 to 0.07

3.

Moderate

0.07 to 0.13

4.
5.

High
Very High

0.13 to 0.20
0.20 & AboveNagaur, Bhilwara, Kota, Baran, Bharatpur, Tonk,Banswara
Hanumangarh, Pali, Sirohi, Udaipur, Dungarpur,Pratapgarh, Chittaurgarh, Bundi, Jhalawar, Ajmer,Jaipur, Alwar, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur,Rajasmand, Ganganagar, Bikaner
Jaisalmer, Jodhpur Barmer, Jalor,

Source: Calculated from census of Rajasthan, 2011168

Conclusion
The Muslims are the only religious group who has the literacy rate below to state’s average.
Literacy rates are particularly low in those districts wherein the high concentration of Muslimpopulation is observed. Urban literacy rate is higher than rural literacy rate in the state ofRajasthan. The variations in their literacy rates are largely an outcome of their geographicalpositioning, economic activity, need for education and social structure. Rural Muslims are
marginalized, small farmers or self-employed artisans, skilled workers, tailors, retailers and insuch other professions which do not require a person to be literate. Therefore, literacy rate ofrural area is lower than urban area. The observation also leads to the conclusion that, four
districts of the western part, namely Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jalor and Bikaner show the highest
urban- rural differential in literacy of Muslims. This is partly due to unfavorable geographicalfactors (like rugged terrain, infertile soil, extreme climate-high temperature, low amount ofrainfall etc.) and partly due to low level of urbanization, extreme poverty, lack of educational
facilities and other social amenities.
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