Controversy over Religious Data in Census 2011

The data had stirred up a controversy (in media) with respect to the growth of the minority (Muslim) population. The data revealed that the share of Hindus in India’s population had fallen very slightly from 80% to 79.8%. At the same time, the share of Muslims rose slightly from 13.4% in 2001 to 14.2% in 2011. But the data reveals that the rate of growth for Muslims is considerably lower than in previous decades. We note here that 2004 also similar controversies had erupted when the government released the Census 2001 data on religion. In 2005, the union government had set Rajinder Sachar committee to find out the social, economic and educational status of the Muslims. That report had discussed about the Muslim population growth in India and had thrown light on some of the misconceptions about the population growth of Muslims in India.

After the government released data, some went to extent of saying that the increased growth of Muslim population is a part of conspiracy to take over India demographically. However, such rhetoric throws further misgivings only. The demographic changes should be analyzed in not only short period context but also in context of structural socio-economic changes. The relatively faster growth rate in Muslim population is due to younger median age (22 in Muslims, 26 in Hindus) and relatively high Total Fertility Rate in Muslims (3.1) in comparison to Hindus (2.7) and Christians (2.3). The higher fertility rate is mainly because of low female literacy rates, poverty and backwardness. The Muslim women in India, particularly rural women live in stranglehold of the harsh customs and unable to act on their own to obtain family planning services to regulate their childbearing. However, fortunately, there is a growing awareness among the new generation for women. Muslim women are also challenging patriarchy that all women experience around unequal power hierarchies in society.