Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c11.122

c11.122

For an assessment of population on the basis of areas under cultivation, the estimate of Dr. Beni Prasad may be quoted at length. Dr Prasad says: "A comparison of the density of cultivation as revealed by the statistical figures in the *A'n-i-Akbari* with the present density shows the Western Gangetic plain as extensively cultivated and, therefore, presumably, as thickly populated as at present. The density of cultivation and therefore of population in the Eastern Gangetic plain to the border of Bengal appears to be far lower though one cannot believe with Mr. Moreland that it was as low as one-fifth of the present standard. Thus the Mughal empire minus Bengal and Gujrat and a few smaller tracts for which figures are not available contained over 60 millions of people The allowance of ten millions for the excluded areas by Mr. Moreland appears to be much too low. Something must be allowed for Gondwana. . . . On the whole, it seems that the Mughal empire excluding Afghanistan contained somewhat over 90 millions. The rest of the country, as we have seen, supported more than 30 millions. The total may have been somewhat more than 125 or or even 130 millions."⁸⁸