Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c21.34

c21.34

In brief in eastern Bengal, Chandals and Pods and in northern Rajbansis and Koches predominated; the proportion of orthodox Hindus was very small. Pods, Chandals and Koches all have traces of Buddhist influence. Among the Koches, traces of Buddhist influence still survived when Ralph Fitch visited the country in the sixteenth century.²³ Muslim religion must have crumbled the defences of Chandals, Koches, Pods and other tribes and low classes who were regarded as outcaste by the Hindus or on whom there was little Hindu influence.