From 12th century onwards the Muslim rulers occupted the Delhi throne. Though they were foreigners they at the initial period kept the power under their tight control. They due to their military prowess kept even their Hindu citizens under their tight control. Their tulecame to an and with the fall of the Mughal empire in the 18th century. “The culture of the Muslims was for long either an exotic one or as a class culture confined to a certain group that basked in the sun shine of king’s favour.” The long rules of Muhamadan Sultans belonging to the dynasties such as Slaves, Khiljis, Tughlags, Sayyids, Loddis and Mughals have caused indelible impressions over India. They will speak for making the Indian culture as a composite culture. The natives gradually accepted many aspects of the Muslims.

The Hindus were captivateda by the idea of monotheism of the Muslims. The Hindu saints, monks and preachers began to stress on monotheism during the Bhakti movement. The iconoclastic attitude of the Muslims encouraged the Hindus to ahere to such similar activities. Kabir was an eminent personality on that line. The conversion processes employed by the Muslims widened the scope led to the spread of vernacular literature. The Muslim saints by adopting the native languages began to captivate the attention of the mass. The Islamic architecture had its own echo over the Hindu architecture. In the construction of buildings the domes and arches played their role. The use of Urdu for secular purposes and historical writings are few notable contributions. The impact of Islam could be identified in different areas in various forms.

The Social set up

In the feudalistic Indian society the King was at the apex. He was the keystone of the arch of administration. The Sultans introduced pomp and glory in the court and that was followed by the native rulers. The Sultans were lavish spenders for lofty buildings; they expected every others to prostrate before him on the ground that he was ‘Zilli IIIah’ or the shadow of god; they decided to the wealthiest of all other and tried to accumulate wealth in all possible ways’ as he was an autocrat all the powers were centralized by him’ the Sultan was a lover of art and beauty and that enabled to adhere to polygamy and to maintan a huge army. Thus the characteristic qualities of the Sultan had its own echo over the Hindu society and polity. The Sultans were fascinated in having the company of poets, musicians, learned scholars, chroniclers, clowns, astrologers painters and others. Such people began to flock the royal court. The Nadims or the refined courtiers emerged as a sophisticated class. They offered importance to wear pleasingly decorated dresses. Their conversations were appealing and attractive. They were always in the company of Sultans. Sar abdar, the personal security of the Sultan, Chasinger the royal supervisor of the kitchen, Saqui-I-khas the suppliers of intoxicating liquor to the royal members were the important officials who encircled the rulers. Thus the Sultan was known for his pomp and ceremonies. Khutba, was the public sermon read in the name of a new ruler.

Next to the Sultan, the upper class which was actually the ruling class occupied an importance place. It comprised of the members of the royal family, nobility and army. The Ulema, Ghazis formed the intellectual group. Ali-I-Murad was the class of people who entertained the sultan. The musicians, dancers etc., became part of them. Next cane the Hindu and Muslim masses. They were tax payers and had no opportunity for any entertainment. As the monopoly of power was left with the oppressive officials and authorities the condition of the common man was really a pathetic and miserable one. The Hindus met with untold miseries as unprivileged class. The Afghans, Turks, Persians, Abyssinians, Arabs were the most dominating and influential class. Competitions, rivalries, personal jealousies, ambitions, individual interests and likings had created suspicion and aversion among them. The ulemas had great influence over the public. They enjoyed monopoly in judiciary, ecclesiastical affairs and educational pursuits. The Sultans also consulted the ulemas in state matters as well as law. They were mostly in favour of ‘Jehad’ against the Indian infidels.

The Muslim mass led a better life than the Hindu population which was the majority in India. The life and properties of the Hindus were not at all safre. They had neither privileges nor freedom. All the activities of the Hindus were suspected. The rulers were well aware of the fact that they could not achieve anything tangible without the co-operation and assistance of Hindu popularion. In the provincial administration and judicial activities the Hindu could not be set aside. In general the society was feudal in character. The Sultans enjoyed the monopoly in various aspects. While the Sultan and his associated were rolling in luxury and comforts, the majority of the population was living in poverity.

The foreigners invaded India due to the fabulous wealth and prosperity. Ghradually they became the owners of the wealth. They started enjoying the prosperities in succession. The country was totally depending upon agricultural income. The country was generally self sufficient. The countty was known for customs and traditions. The women folk wre engaged in tilling, weeding and harvesting. The carpenters assisted in offering agricultural implements. The blacksmiths also were there in assisting the society. The potters were making household utensils. There were washermen, sweeper, barber shepherds and others.

Sufficient production was made to meet out the local consumption. Agricultural pioduces and Industrial goods, available in plenty were distributed properly. Varieties of agricultural produces such as wheat, barley, millets, sugarcane, jute, cotton were common. Tea, tobacco and coffee plantations were gaining popularity. Different varieties of fruits and flowers were produced.

Village industries were familiar. Cotton crafts were undertaken in the villages. There were hereditary labourers. They adopted only traditional and conservative crude methods. Production of sugar was a common industry. Weaving and spinning were popular. Weapons and ornaments were produced in plenty. The hand made commodities were artistic and cheap. No larger industries were available. The silk manufacture was a royal industry. The textile industry was a promising one. Silk varieties, muslin, linen, satin and fur were the common materials used for the dresses of the rich people. Carpets cushions, beddings, bedstrings were produced. Dyeing was a popular industry. Various experts were there in working in many metals. Work of enamelling reached its zenith during that period. Embroidery wrok also developed. Stone and brick work were becoming more popular. Finr buildings of different size and shape were erected. There were expert artisans. Leather and paper works also developed. Ivory, imitation jewellery works also developed. The workers too had their organised skills.

Vast amd extenmsive trade and commerce also developed. Internal and foreign trade were familiar. Different kinds of merchants were involved in it. The Gujarathis, Chettis, Branjaras were famous treading communities. Special market towns were also available. They were involved in banking business also. The market regulations introduced by Alaud-din-Khiji were models for future rulers. India’s foreign trade was a flourishing one. The Moorish merchants were having their own hand in seaborne commerce. Grain, cotton, precious, stones, Indigo, opium, spieces were items of export. Itaq, Persia, Egypt, Afica, Malaya, Java, Sumatra, China, central Asia, Afghanisthan were the foreign countries which had commercial contact with India.

There are scholars who has pointed out that the Hindu society was influenced largely by the Islamic culture. Hindu art, literature, science etc., absorbed many Muslim elements. There are other views that Hindus influenced Islam largely. “Islam seized her political capitals, controlled her military forces and appropriated her revenues., but India retained what she cherished most, her intellectual empire and her soul was never subdued”. The political victory of Islam had no echo over intellectural and moral conquest. India’s spiritual superiority was left unmeddled. The Hindus never relaxed their caste system. The inequality among the Hindus continued to exist unmeddled. The impact of Islam was a superficial one and no drastic changes were effected.

The feuds and confrontations among the Islamic as well as Hindu cultures could not produce any appealing effect over the Indian society. The Hindus did not notice any virtue in the Islamic people and their rigidity and iconoclastic character were looked upon them as unclean. The Hindu society was forced to adopt consevatism as an outlet for the compelled conversion by Islamic rulers. The Hindus and leaders became more orthodox and devotional and they decided to adhere to the vedic ritualistic ways of life with all emphasis. Very strict rulers and regulations relating to food habits, marriages and general conduct were implement to avoid the onslaught of Islam. Few democratic ideas of Islam penetrated into Hinduism. The Bhakti movement was greatly influenced by Islam. Sufism had greater impact over Hindus.

The introduction of Islam caused remarkable changes in the social structure. The caste system of India became more rigid and caste rulers were to be observed with all seriousness. The female infanticide was condemned. To avoid the Muslim rulers to snatch away the Hindu girls the parents practiced either female infanticide or child marriage. The Pardah system was yet another impact. The Hindu women by using the pardah system endeavoured to safeguard them from the kidnappings by wealthy nobles and Sultans.

The Position of the women in the society was not at all an appreciableone. They had no equality with men. They had no right to participate in the social functions gatherings and ceremonies. The adoption sati or self immolation became common. To maintain their status and position the Muslim rulers had nobles who had their own slaves. Women slaves were there. The Islamic practices of dress, food, manners, customs and traditions influenced the Hindu society largely. The high class Hindus began to follow the dress habits of Muslim nobles. The vices such as gambling and drinking also adopted the Hindus. Hunting and games were also adopted by the Hindus. Though Jaghir system was introduced the Amirs had to depend upon the Hindu farmers. So the old traditional lost their control over the economy of the state. Because of theimpact and influence of Islam the Indian overseas trade was continued. Indian navy and ship building developed because of Islamic power. The trade contacts with the eastern countries developed.

The study of Persian literature gained impetus. During the Lodi rule theHindus began to concentrate on Persian and Arabic literature. Sanskrit and Hindu became populr. Akbar devoted much attention to promote literature of various languages. Many independent Persian works emerged. The new language Urdu came into existence.

In the fields of art and architectue there was a deep impact. Hindu and Muslim cultures had a synatheis. New style of architecture emerged. New changes were introduced in music. The domes, arches were introduced. The Islamic art influenced the Rajputs to a large extent. Hindu and Persian system of music were introduced. Some musical instruments such as Sitar emerged. It was a combination of Indian Vina and Iranian Tambura. Tabela is the outcome of the Indian Mirdang. The Islamic influence over Indian painting was an absorbing one. The ideas and techniques of the Islamic traditions were followed. The Rajput and Mughal schools of painting emerged during that age. The system of making gardens also was an Islamic impact.

The Hindus too had their own influences over Islam. Hindu social customs in marriages were adopted by them. Polygamy began to lose grounds and monogamy became an appreciable one. The Islamic converts were the lower sections of Hindus. Superstitions also began to take deep roots among them. Hindu philosophy, Vedanta attracted them. There were equal exchanges on both sides.

Impact Of Islam

The Social set up