Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c9.15

c9.15

Alberuni makes mention of a number of cities and towns; although he does not attempt an estimate of their population.⁶ At this time Delhi seems to have been an obscure town, it was not considered worthy of mention in the works of Utbi and Alberuni in connection with Mahmud Ghaznavi's campaigns.⁷ Kanauj, writes he, was "a very large place", but "most of it is now in ruins and desolate".⁸ He thus confirms the statement of Al Masudi, quoted earlier, that at one time Kanauj was very populous and prosperous, but he knew of its destruction in 1018-19; hence the remark. Bhilsan (Bhilsa, Vidisha) he calls "a place most famous among the Hindus."⁹ Although such stray notices do not help much in our study, yet the work of Alberuni does give the impression that India, a vast country with a great civilization, was on the path of demographic decline.