How the Sowrd of Islam was Blunted in India

Submitted by B.N.Gururaj (India), Feb 13, 2009 at 21:42

Dear Readers,

Thanks for the response to "Muslim population growth fits the pattern". It would be of interest to note that though the invasions on Indian land and coasts started as early as 636 AD, within four years of the Prophet's death, until 1199 AD no muslim rule could be established in India. Repeated attempts of even cruel Ghazis like Mohammed of Ghazni could not establish Muslim rule in India for almost five hundred years. Even thereafter, the muslim population in India grew mainly by procreation, and by giving the choice between Islam and death. Heroic Hindu resistence to Islam, the tendency of neo-muslims to revert to their parent faith substantially slowed down the the growth of Muslim population in India.

The massacre of buddhist monks in the eastern part of India, destruction of Universities like Nalanda, Vikramshila, Odantapuri uprooted Buddhism in India. The buddhists without their monks to guide them in their religion either returned to Hinduism or embraced Islam. This was one of the major gains of Islam in eastern India, where muslims have significant number. This method destroying temples and monastries did not work against Hinduism on account of Bhakti movement, which spread Hinduism amongst huge mas of population at all levels of society, instead of confining the religion to temples and monastries. Furthermore, after fourteenth century, the strength of Vijayanagar empire in the South and rebirth of Hindu kingdoms slowed down the Islamic expansion in India.

These are but crudely stated causes. It would be worthwhile to undertake a historical sociological study to examine why islam could not succeed in India, the way it coverted pagan Arabia, Persia, Iraq, tuirkey and other places to Islam within less than a century. Why even after one thousand years, India remains predominently a Hindu country, unlike these countries which fell for Islam is a question worth examining. Therein lies a lesson for the nations who want to check the islamisation of their nations.

Now building empires like Vijayanagar, or commencing Bhakti movement is the original forms is not feasible. But, these past developments show that Islamisation has to be tackled both on ideological ground and from a position of strength. Appeasement, and calling Islam a religion of Peace is no solution.

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