Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c21.37

c21.37

There can, therefore, be no doubt as to the local origin of most of the Muhammadans in Bengal, especially in North and East. Dewan Fazle Rabbi, however, has tried to prove that Bengal Muslims are mainly of foreign extraction. Nothing can be farther from the truth, but before we critically assess his ill-founded thesis, we shall sift the evidence about the local origin of Bengal Muslims which in itself would refute their extra-Indian nativity. Brian Hodgson writes about the voluntary conversion of Koch tribe of North Bengal;²⁴ Dr. Wise about the tribes about Dacca, and Buchanan Hamilton about other tribes, but they all agree that Bengal Muslims are descendants of local inhabitants.²⁵ "But the most convincing testimony is that afforded by the exact measurements carried out by Mr. Risley. The averege Cephalic index (proportion of breadth of head to length) of 185 Muhammadans of East Bengal is almost identical with that of 67 Chandals. The nasal index (proportion of breadth of nose to height) was greater than that of the Chandals but not very different from the Chandals' half-brothers, the Pods, and in any case a broad nose is characteristic of the Dravidian rather than of the Aryan or Semetic type. These measurements show clearly that the foreign element amongst the Muhammadans of East Bengal is very small.²⁶ And the appelations and professions of the low class indigenous people did not change with their conversion, as will be clearly seen in the following Table.