Muslims in India : their educational, demographic, and socio-economic status with comparative indicators for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and other communities, based on a singular and systematic field survey, 1990-1993 /

Muslims in India constitute the largest minority community; they account for slightly more than 11 percent of the country's population. This volume is first of several designed to examine empirically the social, economic, demographic, and educational status of Muslims in comparison with Hindus and other religious communities living in different cultural regions of India. The study reports the results of a comprehensive household survey carried out in early 1991 in a district city in the northeastern state of Bihar. The sample city is found to have striking intercommunity differences in a number of areas, including sex ratio, age structure, economic activity, and levels of education. The volume is a useful addition to the growing scientific literature about minority communities in India in general and about Muslims in particular. It is likely to interest political scientists, sociologists, and anthropologists specializing in the study of Indian social structure. The conclusions are very useful to the policy makers and promoters of planned social change in India. Tables, figures, appendixes. Highly recommended for advanced undergraduates and above. H. S. Jassal; SUNY College at Cortland