Forefathers of a majority of Muslims in the country were scheduled castes and backward Hindus, who embraced Islam over a period of time, according to a report.

These people embraced Islam at different points of time 'whenever the opportunity came to escape from class structure', the report on 'Identification of Socially and Educationally Classes in Muslim community of Andhra Pradesh' said.

The report prepared by Advisor to Ministry of HRD P S Krishnan, for the Andhra Pradesh government, presents a complete picture of Muslims and their socio-economic conditions in the country.

"The conversion of Hindus to Islam happened over a period of time, especially in the medieval period. The people who embraced Islam were not happy with Hinduism which has a rigid system," he told PTI.

Krishnan said the caste system in Hinduism is very rigid and puts each community at certain place in the hierarchy. And it does not allow communities to go up. The report said certain sections are treated as untouchables in Hinduism and are discriminated.

"This system made many people try to escape from it when opportunity arose. Across the country, people from untouchable and other castes, which faced discriminations, became Muslims. In fact Islam came as a big relief for them," Krishnan said.

Certain communities also embraced Christianity in South India, the report said.

"About 98 per cent Christians in Andhra Pradesh are from SC origin," he said.

Similarly in Punjab, people opted for Sikhism. Even though they converted to different religion, these people carried their backwardness with them.

"The same backwardness is continuing till date that is why majority of Muslims are poor," he said in the report.

Krishnan said many rulers had realised the backwardness of Muslims and had introduced reservation for them to help them join the mainstream.

Maharaja of Kolhapur first introduced quota for Muslims in 1902 while Maharaja of Mysore took the same step in 1921. Similarly, Bombay presidency and later Madras Presidency introduced quota.

The report identifies 14 communities among Muslims, which should be listed in backward category. Krishnan prepared the report on the basis of field visits and literature on the social system in India.