RAS question
Al-Biruni, who wrote 'Kitab-ul-Hind', came to India with:
Correct answer: (B) Mahmud of Ghazni (early 11th century).
Al-Biruni, the author of Kitab-ul-Hind, came to India in the early eleventh century, in the Ghaznavid context associated with Mahmud of Ghazni.
Explanation
Abu Rayhan Al-Biruni is linked with Mahmud of Ghazni, not with the later rulers listed in the options. According to NCERT, Sultan Mahmud invaded Khwarizm in 1017 and took several scholars and poets back to Ghazni; Al-Biruni was among them. In Ghazni, Al-Biruni became more interested in India. After Punjab became part of the Ghaznavid empire, he came into contact with local Brahmin scholars. With their help, he learned Sanskrit and studied Indian religious and philosophical texts. His Kitab-ul-Hind is an extensive, lucid Arabic work of 80 chapters covering religion, philosophy, festivals, astronomy, manners, customs, social life, weights and measures, laws and other related subjects. Therefore, the RAS answer is Mahmud of Ghazni.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Timur is wrong because Al-Biruni's move to Ghazni and subsequent study of India belong to Sultan Mahmud's Ghaznavid period, which predates Timur.
- (C) Muhammad Ghori is wrong because Al-Biruni developed his interest in India in the Ghaznavid setting under Sultan Mahmud, before the Ghurid phase associated with Muhammad Ghori.
- (D) Babur is wrong because Al-Biruni's Kitab-ul-Hind and his study of Sanskrit are linked to Mahmud's Ghazni and the Ghaznavid presence in Punjab, not to the much later Mughal foundation under Babur.
Concept
This tests your understanding of sources for medieval Indian history. The writings of foreign travellers and court-linked scholars help us understand that period. RAS often asks about this because Al-Biruni's Kitab-ul-Hind is a key source for understanding Indian society, religion and knowledge traditions from a foreign scholar's perspective.