Mughal & Travellers — Set 1

Correct Answer: A. Babur

• **Babur** = The founder of the Mughal Empire, Babur, wrote his own autobiography, 'Baburnama'. • **Chaghatai Turkic** — This was the original language of the 'Baburnama', reflecting Babur's Central Asian heritage. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Humayun]: He was Babur's son and the second Mughal emperor; [Akbar]: He was Babur's grandson and did not write 'Baburnama'; [Jahangir]: He was Babur's great-grandson and wrote 'Tuzk-e-Jahangiri'.

Correct Answer: C. Gulbadan Begum

• **Gulbadan Begum** = She was Babur's daughter and Humayun's sister, who wrote 'Humayun-nama'. • **Emperor Akbar** — Gulbadan Begum wrote 'Humayun-nama' at the request of her nephew, Emperor Akbar. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Hamida Banu Begum]: She was Humayun's wife and Akbar's mother; [Maham Anga]: She was Akbar's chief wet nurse and a powerful regent; [Nur Jahan]: She was the wife of Emperor Jahangir and a significant political figure.

Correct Answer: D. Abul Fazl

• **Abul Fazl** = He was one of the Navaratnas in Akbar's court and authored 'Akbarnama' and 'Ain-i-Akbari'. • **Navaratnas** — Abul Fazl was one of the 'Nine Jewels' or prominent figures in Emperor Akbar's court, known for his wisdom and scholarship. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Faizi]: He was Abul Fazl's brother and a poet in Akbar's court; [Todar Mal]: He was Akbar's finance minister and revenue expert; [Birbal]: He was a witty advisor and close confidant of Akbar.

Correct Answer: A. Tuzk-e-Jahangiri

• **Tuzk-e-Jahangiri** = This autobiography of Emperor Jahangir reflects his deep interest in nature and painting. • **Persian** — The 'Tuzk-e-Jahangiri' was primarily written in Persian, the official language of the Mughal court. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Jahangir-nama]: This is a generic name for a book about Jahangir, not the specific autobiography; [Iqbalnama-i-Jahangiri]: This was a chronicle of Jahangir's reign written by Mutamad Khan, not his autobiography; [Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh]: This critical history was written by Abdul Qadir Badauni, covering Akbar's reign.

Correct Answer: C. Abdul Qadir Badauni

• **Abdul Qadir Badauni** = He was a contemporary of Akbar and authored 'Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh', a critical history of Akbar's reign. • **Orthodox religious views** — Badauni secretly wrote 'Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh' to criticize Akbar's liberal religious policies from an orthodox perspective. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Abul Fazl]: He wrote the highly laudatory 'Akbarnama'; [Nizamuddin Ahmad]: He authored 'Tabaqat-i-Akbari', another history of Akbar's reign; [Khafi Khan]: He wrote 'Muntakhab-ul-Lubab' during Aurangzeb's later reign.

Correct Answer: D. Dara Shikoh

• **Dara Shikoh** = Francois Bernier, author of 'Travels in the Mughal Empire', served as a physician to Mughal prince Dara Shikoh. • **17th century** — Bernier spent **twelve years** in India during the 17th century, providing detailed accounts of the Mughal Empire. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Murad Baksh]: He was another of Shah Jahan's sons, who fought for the throne; [Shah Shuja]: He was another of Shah Jahan's sons, who contested for succession; [Aurangzeb]: He was Shah Jahan's son who ultimately defeated his brothers and became emperor.

Correct Answer: A. Niccolao Manucci

• **Niccolao Manucci** = This Italian traveler visited Aurangzeb's court and authored the comprehensive account 'Storia do Mogor'. • **Fifty years** — Manucci lived in India for over **fifty years**, providing a unique long-term perspective on the Mughal Empire. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Pietro Della Valle]: An Italian traveler who visited India in the early 17th century, not primarily Aurangzeb's court; [Marco Polo]: A famous Venetian traveler who visited China in the 13th century, not Mughal India; [Jean-Baptiste Tavernier]: A French jeweler who extensively traveled through India, focusing on trade and diamonds.

Correct Answer: A. Al-Biruni

• **Al-Biruni** = He accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni to India and wrote 'Kitab-ul-Hind', a detailed study of Indian culture and science. • **11th century** — Al-Biruni came to India in the **11th century**, and his work is considered an early objective study of a foreign culture. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Ibn Battuta]: A Moroccan traveler who wrote 'Rihla' about his travels in the 14th century; [Abdur Razzaq]: A Persian ambassador who wrote about the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century; [Al-Masudi]: An Arab historian and geographer from the 10th century, known for 'Muruj al-dhahab'.

Correct Answer: C. Ibn Battuta

• **Ibn Battuta** = This Moroccan traveler authored 'Rihla', detailing his extensive journeys across Asia and Africa. • **Muhammad bin Tughlaq** — Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq and served as a Qazi in Delhi. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Marco Polo]: A Venetian traveler known for his journeys to China in the 13th century; [Niccolao Manucci]: An Italian traveler who wrote 'Storia do Mogor' about the Mughal court; [Duarte Barbosa]: A Portuguese explorer who wrote about the coasts of India in the early 16th century.

Correct Answer: D. Abdur Razzaq

• **Abdur Razzaq** = He was a Persian ambassador who visited the court of Deva Raya II and wrote about the splendor of Vijayanagara in the 15th century. • **15th century** — Abdur Razzaq's account in the **15th century** provides valuable insights into the wealth and military power of the Vijayanagara Empire. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Athanasius Nikitin]: A Russian merchant who visited the Bahmani Kingdom in the 15th century, not Vijayanagara; [Fernao Nuniz]: A Portuguese horse trader who wrote about Vijayanagara in the 16th century; [Domingo Paes]: A Portuguese traveler who wrote about Vijayanagara in the early 16th century.