Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c17.10

c17.10

In this Section, therefore, we shall cursorily go through the history of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries with a view to guaging the quantum of conversion and immigration in the various kingdoms of India, particularly those ruled by Muslim Kings, and see how Muslim numbers grew there. We shall then study the effects of Bhakti Movement, Akbar’s regulations, and Portuguese Chirstians’ proselytizing endeavour serving as brakes on the growth of Muslim numbers. And then we shall try to fix the proportion of Muslims in the demographic picture of India. In this study we are helped by a wider range of source materials than was available for the 1200-1400 period. Besides the writings of medieval chroniclers, a large number of accounts of foreign travellers are also available. The latter in particular come to our help in determining the proportion of Muslims in the population of India by the end of the sixteenth century.