[Solved] Historian with Mahmud of Ghazni | Al-Beruni | Concept & Explanation

The famous historian who visited India with Mahmud of Ghazni was-

[Uttarakhand P.C.S. Prelims 2010]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Foreign historians often accompanied conquerors to document their deeds. Al-Beruni was unique because he used his proximity to the invader to conduct a scientific study of Indian society.

Authentic Source Evidence

Al-Beruni (Abu Rayhan Muhammad) was brought to Ghazni as a prisoner of war and later accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni on several Indian campaigns in the 11th century. His book Tahqiq-i-Hind is the most authoritative foreign account of that era.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Option B is correct. He learned Sanskrit and interviewed Brahmins to understand the Hindu religion and sciences.

Logic 2: Ibn Battuta (D) came in the 14th century, and Ferishta (A) was a late 16th-century historian of the Deccan.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What was Al-Beruni's method of studying India?"

He adopted a comparative approach, contrasting Indian philosophical concepts with those of Greek thinkers like Socrates and Plato.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Al-Beruni's presence transformed a period of military raids into an era of deep cross-cultural intellectual documentation."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Tahqiq-i-Hind 4 Ghaznavid Empire 2

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