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The Demographic Siege
In today's India, demography is a hot item, not just because of the economic and ecological burden of overpopulation, but even more because of the differential between Hindus and Muslims with its real or perceived political implications. Official census data show that the Hindu percentage has declined, and the Muslim percentage increased, in every single successive census in British India, free India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Muslim increase is not linear, but is itself increasing; and there is a large immigration of Muslims from Pakistan and Bangladesh, which can only increase. India's `secularists' admit the fact of Muslim demographic expansion but offer as their explanation that it is all due to Muslim poverty. But Kerela refutes the argument by showing a higher birth rate among Muslims, who have a high level of education and a relatively higher standard of living. Prophet Mohammed had said in so many words: 'Marry women who will love their husbands and be very prolific, for I want you to be more numerous than any other people' and 'In my Ummah, he is the best who has the largest number of wives.' Even secular Muslims candidly call it one of the fundamental tenets of Islam - namely, to multiply the tribe. To a modernist outsider, there is something quaint and unreal about this alternative: either islamizing or hinduizing India. I wonder if the present worldwide revival of religious identities can at all persist once the information revolution has had its full civilizational effect. Indian Muslims should be encouraged to outgrow their religious conditioning, and to explore the spiritual sphere afresh. This will automatically bring them in closer touch with their Hindu surroundings, and help them reintegrate into the society from which they were estranged by Islam.
55 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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84 people want to read
About the author
Koenraad Elst
41 books159 followersFlemish writer and orientalist (without institutional affiliation).
Koenraad Elst was an editor of the New Right Flemish nationalist journal Tekos 1992 to 1995 and also contributed to other Flemish seperatist publications like Nucleus, 't Pallieterke, Secessie and The Brussels Journal.
Koenraad Elst is one of the most well-known western writers to actively defend the Hindutva movement.
Koenraad Elst was an editor of the New Right Flemish nationalist journal Tekos 1992 to 1995 and also contributed to other Flemish seperatist publications like Nucleus, 't Pallieterke, Secessie and The Brussels Journal.
Koenraad Elst is one of the most well-known western writers to actively defend the Hindutva movement.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 3, 2022
Last month while I was returning home from the village, While awaiting for a bus I saw my friend's father and he was almost in his 60s. Curiously I enquired about him with my cousin, He suddenly started laughing at seeing the old man.
I asked my cousin, why are you laughing?
That old man recently became father to his 6th child, and his wife is pregnant with a new one. I was startled to hear that. Imagine an educated Muslim can have 6 children in the name of religion, How about the Muslim who never went to school?
Koenraad Elst explored the demographic siege by Muslims using the old age method of the proliferation of their birth rate to overpower the natives just like old days. Even though the book argues based on 20th-century available statistics, it's still relevant to this day. His arguments are not speculative, they are pure fact-based and well researched. I like this author's works Because he spares no one and appeases none in his works.
Informative read.
I asked my cousin, why are you laughing?
That old man recently became father to his 6th child, and his wife is pregnant with a new one. I was startled to hear that. Imagine an educated Muslim can have 6 children in the name of religion, How about the Muslim who never went to school?
Koenraad Elst explored the demographic siege by Muslims using the old age method of the proliferation of their birth rate to overpower the natives just like old days. Even though the book argues based on 20th-century available statistics, it's still relevant to this day. His arguments are not speculative, they are pure fact-based and well researched. I like this author's works Because he spares no one and appeases none in his works.
Informative read.
September 21, 2020
Short and a summarized read.
I especially liked the argumentative style of the author. The entire discussion happens in a very well thought off and structured manner from all angles.
He never tilts towards any side; discusses the exact points used by leftists to discredit Hindu revivalists and then analyses the points used against the “pseudo-secularists”/leftists by Hindu revivalists.
The surprise comes in the end when he concludes and he does conclude strongly without an iota of doubt or a lip service politeness to please somebody.
Recommended 👍🏼
I especially liked the argumentative style of the author. The entire discussion happens in a very well thought off and structured manner from all angles.
He never tilts towards any side; discusses the exact points used by leftists to discredit Hindu revivalists and then analyses the points used against the “pseudo-secularists”/leftists by Hindu revivalists.
The surprise comes in the end when he concludes and he does conclude strongly without an iota of doubt or a lip service politeness to please somebody.
Recommended 👍🏼
June 28, 2019
Just 55 pages small book. Highly educative and informative. Read it to know the harsh reality.
September 15, 2018
Perfect book. Still fit to current scenarios. Ignorance is not a bliss. Read it and educate yourself. Everyone should read it.
October 4, 2019
Small in size - powerful in content. Dr Elst covers multiple facets of the demographic challenge Hindus face in India - from the Muslim community.
December 22, 2019
Small book. Only 47 pages of text. But, Elst, like in much of his other books, has delivered a strong message.
With the next decennial census being round the corner, the issue of population explosion is coming back to popular conversation.
That Muslims in India are growing at a faster rate than the Hindus or any other religious group is a fact that all know, but few discuss in open forum. One – not necessarily the only – reason is the fear that it will sound communal and therefore politically incorrect.
But that need not have been so.
In The Demographic Siege, Elst looks at the whole issue in a broader perspective.
Though the book was written in 1998 (this is the 2012 reprint edition), it continues to remain relevant – even more so – today, twenty years later.
Writing in 1998, Elst had 1991 database as his source and guide. Now, two decades on, we have figures from two more Censuses: while in 1991 the India population was 84 crore, in 2001 it was 102 crore, and in 2011, 121 crore. Now, in 2019 we can be anywhere between 135 and 140 crore.
To entirely blame the Muslims for the population explosion is wrong, but there is no denying that Muslims have contributed their share which is far higher when calculated against their share of population.
And religion plays a large part in that. As Elst argues, “…the demographic ebullience of Muslim communities is for the largest part the innocent and automatic result of, firstly, the age-old desire to see the tribe increase, which Mohammed merely confirmed but did not invent: and secondly, of the status of woman in Islam, which is strongly conducive to her exclusive motherhood. However, in the present geopolitical circumstances, certain powerful Islamic organizations have added to these natural factors a deliberate strategy of strengthening the position of Islam by multiplying its numbers.”
So, is India is going to become a Muslim-majority state one day? Yes, Elst believes. By the end of this century.
Are there any way out? Not many, really. One of the approaches will be to educate “the Muslims about the less than divine basis of Islam to shake well-grounded believers in Islam out of their beliefs. … Indian Muslims should be encouraged to outgrow their religious conditioning, and to explore the spiritual world afresh. This will automatically bring them in closer touch with their Hindu surroundings, and help them reintegrate into the society from which they were estranged by Islam.”
Eloquent words. But are they practicable. Probably not. Not that Elst is oblivious of that. He wonders, “… if the present worldwide revival of religious identities can at all persist once the information revolution has had its full civilizational effect.”
Important, thought-provoking book.
With the next decennial census being round the corner, the issue of population explosion is coming back to popular conversation.
That Muslims in India are growing at a faster rate than the Hindus or any other religious group is a fact that all know, but few discuss in open forum. One – not necessarily the only – reason is the fear that it will sound communal and therefore politically incorrect.
But that need not have been so.
In The Demographic Siege, Elst looks at the whole issue in a broader perspective.
Though the book was written in 1998 (this is the 2012 reprint edition), it continues to remain relevant – even more so – today, twenty years later.
Writing in 1998, Elst had 1991 database as his source and guide. Now, two decades on, we have figures from two more Censuses: while in 1991 the India population was 84 crore, in 2001 it was 102 crore, and in 2011, 121 crore. Now, in 2019 we can be anywhere between 135 and 140 crore.
To entirely blame the Muslims for the population explosion is wrong, but there is no denying that Muslims have contributed their share which is far higher when calculated against their share of population.
And religion plays a large part in that. As Elst argues, “…the demographic ebullience of Muslim communities is for the largest part the innocent and automatic result of, firstly, the age-old desire to see the tribe increase, which Mohammed merely confirmed but did not invent: and secondly, of the status of woman in Islam, which is strongly conducive to her exclusive motherhood. However, in the present geopolitical circumstances, certain powerful Islamic organizations have added to these natural factors a deliberate strategy of strengthening the position of Islam by multiplying its numbers.”
So, is India is going to become a Muslim-majority state one day? Yes, Elst believes. By the end of this century.
Are there any way out? Not many, really. One of the approaches will be to educate “the Muslims about the less than divine basis of Islam to shake well-grounded believers in Islam out of their beliefs. … Indian Muslims should be encouraged to outgrow their religious conditioning, and to explore the spiritual world afresh. This will automatically bring them in closer touch with their Hindu surroundings, and help them reintegrate into the society from which they were estranged by Islam.”
Eloquent words. But are they practicable. Probably not. Not that Elst is oblivious of that. He wonders, “… if the present worldwide revival of religious identities can at all persist once the information revolution has had its full civilizational effect.”
Important, thought-provoking book.
September 28, 2019
Very informative. Based on facts and statistical data.
March 31, 2025
Koenraad Elst's The Demographic Siege presents a detailed analysis of demographic shifts in India, arguing that the country is on a trajectory to becoming a Muslim-majority nation within the next few decades. The book doesn't include the factors such as illegal immigration from Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Pakistan, as well as concerns over population growth trends and interfaith relationships. If we include these factors and corrupt ecosystem which supports this we are doomed.
November 6, 2020
Short but engaging read.
This book full of facts which will scare you and throw some conundrums and it questions you but we may or may be not confused whether we have answers for this or not.
Read this book and Educate yourself , then THINK !!
This book full of facts which will scare you and throw some conundrums and it questions you but we may or may be not confused whether we have answers for this or not.
Read this book and Educate yourself , then THINK !!
October 5, 2020
Insights and perspective into a topic that is being widely discussed in various forums across the world. Quite an interesting and informative read.
December 29, 2020
Neat little booklet by Śrī Koenraad Elst (published 1992) about the demographic problem, its root in Islamic doctrine, the impending doom which seems inevitable at present, and the possible solution(s), if any.
February 9, 2025
“When you don’t learn from the History, you’re bound to repeat it” holds its significance in the contemporary case of the Bhartiya civilization.
Author Koenraad Elst delves into the doomsday theory of disappearance of the Hindus as a race in Bharat in future from different people’s perspectives in the first chapter. The demographic upheaval’s implications looked through cultural prism with the historical example of the Christian take-over of the Roman empire and political prism from the example of civil war in Lebanon for sharing of power and resources. He lays the foundation for next chapters with the themes of illegal immigration and Birth rate in the backdrop of ominous census figures of British India, Independent India and Indian subcontinent till 1991. The chapter also mentions the relevant problem with the official figures of India’s census due to illegal immigration. The author presents visible trend across decades to the readers, for arriving at a conclusion rather than emphasizing on precise prediction. Today India faces a grave internal security challenge in the form of illegal immigration in not just key strategic border areas where the Hindu population is being replaced, but metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai etc. Author talks about the short-term implication of involvement with the crime and hijacking economic opportunities. The argument is based on India’s democratic laws and institutions. The risk increases manifold when the political parties in India do not see as the problem and Bangladesh promotes this demographic dumping. Book provides a balanced view of economic reason and religious persecution of minorities for infiltration. In order to avoid high cost, author provides a sensible approach for dealing with the problem.
Author busts the myth of Muslim poverty behind higher birth rate through data analysis. Reflecting the prominence of religion for more growth not just in percentage but absolute. Then he overviews the trend worldwide, which shows worrisome data for the world and in the backdrop of Islamic government policies. Then author examines Islamic texts and their alleged progressive nature, regarding the question of birth control. In the end of the chapter fourth, author gives his findings over the most significant question, whether Hindu revivalists are right about increasing Muslim percentage over Hindu percentage in the Indian population, with the intentionality of demographic offensive. The fifth chapter looks into the responses of Hindu against this demographic offensive, its time-tested approaches and also extremist ones. Disenfranchising of Muslims seen as a stimulus for civil war, while undefined concept of Hindu Rashtra given by Baljit Rai with no solution of controlling demography. Author emphasizes Dayanand Saraswati goal of destroying toxicity of these ideologies and Hindus challenge Muslims adherence to Islam. Approach of reconversion and opening the eyes of Muslims regarding Islam and shaking their well-grounded beliefs, with reference to ancient Bhartiya traditions are considered as sound counter strategies for salvation by the author.
Each of Koenraad Elst’s works explore controversial questions in the society through authentic data and Historical sources. He even looks at other prevalent perspectives on the issue and judges them on several parameters. He educates his readers from this book with academic depth about the looming danger which should be addressed for ensuring survival of this country. His best-known works are Forever Ayodhya, Hindu Dharma and the Cultural wars, etc.
Author Koenraad Elst delves into the doomsday theory of disappearance of the Hindus as a race in Bharat in future from different people’s perspectives in the first chapter. The demographic upheaval’s implications looked through cultural prism with the historical example of the Christian take-over of the Roman empire and political prism from the example of civil war in Lebanon for sharing of power and resources. He lays the foundation for next chapters with the themes of illegal immigration and Birth rate in the backdrop of ominous census figures of British India, Independent India and Indian subcontinent till 1991. The chapter also mentions the relevant problem with the official figures of India’s census due to illegal immigration. The author presents visible trend across decades to the readers, for arriving at a conclusion rather than emphasizing on precise prediction. Today India faces a grave internal security challenge in the form of illegal immigration in not just key strategic border areas where the Hindu population is being replaced, but metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai etc. Author talks about the short-term implication of involvement with the crime and hijacking economic opportunities. The argument is based on India’s democratic laws and institutions. The risk increases manifold when the political parties in India do not see as the problem and Bangladesh promotes this demographic dumping. Book provides a balanced view of economic reason and religious persecution of minorities for infiltration. In order to avoid high cost, author provides a sensible approach for dealing with the problem.
Author busts the myth of Muslim poverty behind higher birth rate through data analysis. Reflecting the prominence of religion for more growth not just in percentage but absolute. Then he overviews the trend worldwide, which shows worrisome data for the world and in the backdrop of Islamic government policies. Then author examines Islamic texts and their alleged progressive nature, regarding the question of birth control. In the end of the chapter fourth, author gives his findings over the most significant question, whether Hindu revivalists are right about increasing Muslim percentage over Hindu percentage in the Indian population, with the intentionality of demographic offensive. The fifth chapter looks into the responses of Hindu against this demographic offensive, its time-tested approaches and also extremist ones. Disenfranchising of Muslims seen as a stimulus for civil war, while undefined concept of Hindu Rashtra given by Baljit Rai with no solution of controlling demography. Author emphasizes Dayanand Saraswati goal of destroying toxicity of these ideologies and Hindus challenge Muslims adherence to Islam. Approach of reconversion and opening the eyes of Muslims regarding Islam and shaking their well-grounded beliefs, with reference to ancient Bhartiya traditions are considered as sound counter strategies for salvation by the author.
Each of Koenraad Elst’s works explore controversial questions in the society through authentic data and Historical sources. He even looks at other prevalent perspectives on the issue and judges them on several parameters. He educates his readers from this book with academic depth about the looming danger which should be addressed for ensuring survival of this country. His best-known works are Forever Ayodhya, Hindu Dharma and the Cultural wars, etc.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews