Kangalu or Kanglu is a derogatory ethnic slur used to demean Bengali Muslims, including Indian citizens and Bangladeshi nationals. Literally meaning “destitute,” the term has been weaponized to portray Bengali Muslims as impoverished, parasitic, and culturally inferior outsiders.
Background and Context
Derived from the word kangal, meaning poor or destitute in Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali, the slur is used predominantly by Hindu nationalists to depict Bengali-speaking Muslims as beggars, “illegal infiltrators,” and “termites.” It is especially prevalent in Assam and West Bengal, where it serves to delegitimize the citizenship and belonging of Bengali Muslims with deep ancestral roots in India. In recent years, the term has proliferated across digital hate campaigns targeting both Indian and Bangladeshi Muslims, amplifying anti-Bengali and Islamophobic narratives.
Impact and Harm
The slur dehumanizes Bengali Muslims by portraying them as impoverished, parasitic, and culturally inferior outsiders. It reinforces xenophobic and sectarian stereotypes, normalizing their treatment as second-class citizens. This framing legitimizes social exclusion, systemic discrimination, and violence against both Bengali-origin Muslim Indian citizens and Bangladeshi nationals.
Variants and Alternative Forms
কাঙলু Kanglu कंगलू, कन्गल
Online Usage
