Meera, a history student in Delhi, is preparing a project on an eleventh-century scholar from Central Asia. She learns that he was brought as a hostage to the capital of a Sultan who had invaded his homeland, and that he later came to like that city. He studied the languages and texts of the subcontinent, spent years with its learned men, and wrote a long account of its people in Arabic. Her teacher tells her that accounts written by such outsiders are of special value to historians.
How did the scholar himself describe his work?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → A help for discussing religious questions with the Hindus and for associating with them
Option (1) A guide for those who wanted to plan military campaigns across the Punjab — Incorrect. He came to Ghazni with Sultan Mahmud's conquest, but he did not describe his work as a guide for war in the Punjab.
Option (2) A record of the wonders of the land, meant to entertain courts in the west — Incorrect. Travel writing in Arabic did describe distant lands, yet he did not call his work a book of wonders for entertainment.
Option (3) A handbook for merchants on the markets and weights of northern towns — Incorrect. His book has chapters on weights and measures, but he did not describe it as a trading handbook for merchants.
Option (4) A help for discussing religious questions with the Hindus and for associating with them — Correct. In his own words the work was a help to those who want to discuss religious questions with the Hindus and a repertory (store) of information for those who want to associate with them.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.1 From Khwarizm to the Punjab … |