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Jains are increasingly becoming urban dwellers. In 1901 about 30 percent Jains lived in urban areas. This figure went up to about 75 percent in 2001 census. For obvious reasons this represents the continuity in rising urbanization trend among the Jains. The 1971 census data also suggest that the Jains are "more urban in the areas where they are few in number and more rural in the areas where they are comparatively large in number” (Sangave 1980: 17). As already discussed, other demographic features include a very high level of literacy, the lowest infant mortality rate, and medium level of sex ratio (940 in 2001).
Although spread all over the country, the Jains are found to be heavily concentrated in the western half of India. Thus according to the 1991 census, the five Indian provinces of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka alone had over 86.0 percent of the total Jain population. If we add two more states to this list, namely Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, then the seven states together accounted for over 94.0 percent of the total Jain population in 1991. In 2001 these seven states accounted for about 90% of the total Jain population - a slight reversal of the trend due to low natural increase and/or out-migration. Bihar, the cradle of Jainism, had less than one percent of the Jains living there. Today Jains in Bihar and Jharkhand are mostly confined to the districts of Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Munger, Patna, Ranchi and Hazaribagh. Given the fact that the majority of Jain Tirthankars lived and preached in
nd other parts of eastern India, the historical shift from Bihar to western half of India where overwhelming majority of Jains today live is both interesting and intriguing and requires analysis in terms of the changing political economy of India over the millennia.
Almost all the Jain community related demographic trends highlighted in various census reports need sociological validation through fieldwork in various parts of India. In particular, extensive studies are required to be done about causes and effects of falling population growth rate, low sex ratio and allied aspects of fertility behaviour. Similarly, in and out migration trends pertaining to Jains in India needs a thorough investigation. With over 75% of them living in urban areas in India, the situation has been causing marriage problems in rural areas as the city and town-based girls are unwilling
115 Jains in India and Abroad
