Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Who was appointed as a physician in Mughal service?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
Concept
European specialists, particularly physicians and gunners, were highly valued in the Mughal court. Their foreign education gave them a unique status in the imperial service.Explanation
Niccolo Manucci was an Italian traveler who spent much of his life in India. He served as a physician in the Mughal army and court during the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. His voluminous memoir, 'Storia do Mogor', provides a vivid, if sometimes biased, account of the Mughal royalty.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: While François Bernier was also a physician, Manucci's tenure was specifically noted for his long-term 'service' and active military involvement in the Mughal hierarchy.
Logic 2: Tavernier was primarily a gem merchant, and Coreri was a world traveler who only visited briefly; neither held formal imperial appointments as physicians.