Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c8.25

c8.25

Dr. Nath believes “that the population of the country as a whole did not greatly vary between the early Hindu period and the first advent of Muhammadans, and it may be supposed to have lain roughly between the above limit (100—140 million).”¹⁵ Strangely enough the estimates of Colin Clark also suggest more or less a stationary population for more than 1,300 years (although for a later, period, between A.D. 35 and 1340).¹⁶ If these estimates are accepted we have to admit that right from 300 B.C. to A.D. 1600, for full 1,900 years (or almost two thousand years), the demographic picture hardly registered any charge. Such a situation is remarkable only if it is true. There are, no doubt, certain features of ancient India’s social and economic life which hint at the country’s having a stationary population. A stationary population tends to make society traditional and even static, and the ancient Indian society has almost earned a name for being traditional. But the more important fact is that a rising population necessitates changes in production techniques and invention of more effective tools of production. But the implements of agricultural production, like the wooden plough with metal point, the toothed harrow, the sowing drill, pick and hoe, the smoothing board, the levelling beam, mattocks, spades and rakes and various contrivances for raising water did not substantially change in the ancient period. Nor did the production technique register any substantial alteration. Obviously the produce sufficed for a stationary population, and there being no need for increased production, there was no attempt made to improve agricultural implements.