Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Medieval India: Through the Eyes of Travellers

Question:

What did the term "Hindavi" represent according to the Turks in the region east of the Indus?

Options:

The religious practices of the people

The geographical features of the region

The traditional customs of the people

The language spoken in the region

Correct Answer:

The language spoken in the region

Explanation:

The Turks used the term "Hindavi" to describe the language spoken in the region.
The origin of the term "Hindu" can be traced back to an Old Persian word used around the sixth to fifth centuries BCE. This word referred to the geographical region located east of the Indus River, known as Sindhu in Sanskrit. The Arabs adopted this Persian usage and referred to the region as "al-Hind" and its inhabitants as "Hindi." Subsequently, the Turks used the term "Hindu" to describe the people residing east of the Indus River, while they referred to their land as "Hindustan" and their language as "Hindavi." It's important to note that none of these terms initially carried religious connotations; they were primarily geographical and linguistic identifiers. The religious significance of the term "Hindu" developed much later in history.