Who among the following scholars, considered Sanchi to be a centre of 'Tree and Serpent worship’ due to his ignorance?
(1) Colin Mackenzie
(2) Walter Elliot
(3) H.H. Cole
(4) James Fergusson

4

The correct answer is Option 4 - 4  (James Fergusson)

James Fergusson, due to his lack of understanding of the symbols and iconography of Buddhism, erroneously associated the carvings at Sanchi with what he perceived as "Tree and Serpent worship." This misinterpretation was likely influenced by his unfamiliarity with the Buddhist religious context and the symbolic representations in the carvings.