Islamic influence on Indian society

Muslims wanted to keep Islam and the Muslim way of life to themselves and the Hindus had no desire, whatever. to be influenced by the Muslims, yet the political, economic, social and religious forces worked to bring the Indian society under Islamic Influence (let us be very clear that 'influence' does not mean Imposition'). It appears that from the very beginning of Muslim Rule certain elements of urban population, to whom the caste system denied both status and opportunity were willing to make the best of the new circumstances and gradually other and more respect able elements joined them. North India owes most of its polish and refinement to the court of the mansabdars (Mansab dari system was introduced by Akbar), through whom this etiquette was introduced among the well-to-do and served as behaviour. a standard for cultured The Muslim tendency to extravagence and their wish to lead a refined life with a multiplicity of needs resulted in the production of goods which would satisfy sophisticated needs. more and There is more reason to believe that tailored clothing became common only after the establishment of Turkish Muslim rule in India. The philological origin of the names of different objects and materials of clothing and covering would give an interesting insight into the economic and social developments that took place as a result of introduction of Islam into India.

Urbanisation may also be regarded as a Muslim contribution to Indian life. Along with it architecture had to be developed which still represents the evolution of life as it came to be.

The author points out that though a large majority of Muslims were converts, the conversion of the converts from the Hindu to the Islamic way of life took centuries and it was during this process that Hindus and Muslims influenced each other. The question of Muslim contribution to the Indian way of life raises very large and absorbing problems and the present work gives an indication of the areas that could be fruitfully studied under it.