Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c15.7

c15.7

There is thus little doubt that during the first thirty years of the eleventh century, consequent upon the invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni, a few thousand people were converted to Islam. During and after his raids, a few Muslim colonies were also established, some in as far off places as Kanauj, Banaras, and Bahraich.⁶ This is partially corroborated by the sixteenth century Lama historian Taranatha who refers to the settlements of the Turks in the Antarvedi or the Ganga-Jamuna Doab.⁷ He further adds that during the time of Lavasena and his successors, prior to the invasion of Odantapuri and Vikramsila (1203), the Turks had increased in number in Magadh.⁸ The traditional history of Maner and an inscription found there also corroborate the presence of Turks in Bihar in the twelfth century.⁹