Thomas Roe was disappointed when a ring he gifted to Asaf Khan was returned to him because:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → It was of low cost, merely ₹400.
In diplomatic relations at the Mughal court gifts were a sign of honour and respect, and Thomas Roe was disappointed when a ring he had presented to Asaf Khan was returned to him because it was worth merely 400 rupees.
Note: This question is taken from the chapter ‘Kings and Chronicles’ which was there in the pre-rationalised NCERT and has been deleted from subsequent editions of NCERT, including the NCERT book (2026-27).
NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “6.3 Titles and gifts … A courtier never approached the emperor empty handed: he offered either a small sum of money (nazr ) or a large amount (peshkash). In diplomatic relations, gifts were regarded as a sign of honour and respect. Ambassadors performed the important function of negotiating treaties and relationships between competing political powers. In such a context gifts had an important symbolic role. Thomas Roe was disappointed when a ring he had presented to Asaf Khan was returned to him for the reason that it was worth merely 400 rupees.” |