(Online Course) History for IAS Mains: The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century - Influence of Islam on Indian Culture
The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture
Influence of Islam on Indian Culture
Unlike that of earlier invading tribes, the culture of Islam was quite distinct. The real culture of Islam was represented by the Muslim empires of Baghdad, Cairo and Cordova. The careers of this culture to India were the Turks and the Afghans who hardly represent the culture of Islam. Nevertheless, the cultural influence between Islam, and Indian traditions were mutual and this is clearly borne by several institutions and particularly by the Bhakti movement, which had its genesis in the early Bhagvatism and Vaishnavism.
Muslim influence in the thoughts of Hindu philosophy are manifested in the beliefs of Shankracharya's revolt against all pluralism, monism and repudiation of the semblance of duality; the attempts to establish the monism on the basis of the authority of revealed scriptures, and his tendency to regard his own activities as the mere restoration of the purity of Indian thought and the original truth has great parallels in the world of Islam It is not impossible, as historical evidences indicate, that Shankaracharya was acquainted with the elements of Islamic thought.
Islam reopened the Indian doors to the west after a lapse of several centuries.
Islam brought internal peace and uniform administration to the whole of North India which helped in promoting the unity of Indian outlook. Islam also reinforced mis aspect by introducing uniformity in social manners : dress, food, customs and beliefs Another impact of Islam was felt in growth and development of urban centres. Court etiquette largely influence the creed and conduct of all transgressing rehgidus boundaries. Babur in his memories recalled no Hindu or Islamic way of life but a common Hindustani-way.
The process towards uniformity was greatly strengthened by the introduction of a common revenue system and spread of common methods in war and peace.
Besides the growth of the Indo-Islamic architecture which combined the sarcenic sense of form and Indian conception of embellishment albeit as permitted by the Quranic scriptures. The same achievement is exemplified in painting, weaving, metullurgy and gardening.
Perhaps the most significant development was the growth and devolution of a composite language- Urdu which efficiently combined the materials derived from ancient Indian sources and innovations of the new settlers.
Simultaneously the growth and development of literature in regional language due to the efforts of religious reformers who were either non-Hindu, but mostly non Brahmins. The efflorescence of regional literature was the maximum where the affinity between the Hindus and Muslims was greatest.
Large scale 'intermixing following the conversions led to the establishment of a more or less homogeneous racial type and the development of a common cultural and religious patterns This explains for the support that the regional kings derived in their fights against the forces of Delhi.
These regional rulers were great patrons of literature in the local languages and helped considerably in the perpetuation of poetry and literature of languages such as Gujarati. Bengali etc.
In the field of religion, both from the Hindu and the Muslim side there was an attempt towards rapprochement The similarities between Vaishnavism and Sufism bear an unmistakable testimony to the fact Both emphasised upon the rediscovery of man and self realization outside the sarcam of conventions and dogmas.
The main social result of, the introduction of Islam as a religion into India was the division of society on a vertical basis. Before the thirteenth century, Hindu society was divided horizontally.
By the end of the 16th century the modus Vivendi between different cultures of the north had already been established. At the top the aristocracy attained a uniformity in behaviour, mode of life and general outlook, regardless of the differences in faith. The mass, on the other hand; had also established a kind of mutual toleration which enabled them to face the common problems' and share the common festive delights.
