Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Given below are two statements, one is labeled Assertion and other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Babur wrote his memoirs in Turki. Reason (R): Turki was the official language of the Mughal Court.
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
Concept
Historical records are often written in the author's native tongue, but imperial administrations often adopt a different language for official business. For the Mughals, this led to a unique linguistic dualism.Explanation
Babur wrote his autobiography, the Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Baburnama), in Chaghatai Turki, which was his mother tongue. However, the official language of the Mughal court and administration was Persian, not Turkish. Persian was adopted because of its sophisticated literary tradition and its status as a common language for the elite across South and Central Asia.Logical Breakup
Logic 1 (Assertion): True. Babur was a naturally gifted writer and chose to express his thoughts in the language he spoke most comfortably.
Logic 2 (Reason): False. Akbar later ordered the Baburnama to be translated into Persian because that was the official language of the state records and court proceedings.