Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c23.40

c23.40

In modern times too in the sub-continent as a whole at no census have the Muslim numbers failed to improve, or the Hindu failed to lose. This phenomenon has been attributed, besides proselytization, to polygamy, remarriage of widows, and higher fecundity among the Muslims.¹⁷ Datta also mentions factors such as "*Pax Brittanica* and their (Muslims') occupying more fertile lands in the Eastern Bengal and the canal irrigated lands in Western Punjab and Sindh",¹⁸ and Davis thinks it to be due to the Hindus having taken to western education and secularism with alacrity as against the general backwardness of the Muslims.¹⁹ But in the medieval as in modern India, the Muslims have remained a clear minority as is seen in the following diagram.