ABSTRACT
In sheer numerical terms, the Islamic presence in the Indian sub-continent is far more significant than is generally appreciated. Put together, the Muslim population of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan is greater than that of the Middle East. Intellectually, this region has made one of the biggest contributions to the corpus of Islamic literature. Socially, it has given rise to powerful movements of cultural syncretism or religious revitalisation, some of which continue to be important today. In the realms of culture, art and architecture, the sub-continent boasts a rich heritage. A short chapter cannot bring out the various dimensions and complexities of this story. Here only a synoptic overview of some of the major trends in what are now Bangladesh, India and Pakistan has been attempted. Generalisations and lacunae are inevitable in such a treatment but it is hoped that this account will provide a broad understanding of the subject.
