Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c8.5

c8.5

Since a detailed study of ancient Indian demography is out of the purview of the present study, it may be stated that on the basis of a careful examination of the evidence available on the subject, Dr. Pran Nath estimates the population of India around 300 B.C. as between 100 and 140 million.³ This figure might appear to be on the high side⁴. But Professor Kingsley Davis, who has made a thorough study of the population of India and Pakistan, agrees with the estimate of Pran Nath and adds that conditions in ancient India provided a good basis for a large population. What he says may be summarised thus.