Who came with Mahmud Gajnavi in India?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (1): Ibanbatuta.
Ibanbatuta, whose full name was Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta, was a Moroccan scholar and explorer who extensively travelled the medieval world. His journey to India was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq in the 14th century, long after Mahmud Ghaznavi's expeditions. He chronicled his travels in his famous work "Rihla," providing invaluable insights into the social, political, and economic conditions of the regions he visited, including India. However, the question asks who came with Mahmud Ghaznavi. The correct person associated with Mahmud Ghaznavi's invasions of India is Al-Biruni. There seems to be a discrepancy in the provided correct option. Based on historical facts, Al-Biruni accompanied Mahmud Ghaznavi.

The incorrect option is (2): Firdoshi.
Firdoshi was a Persian poet and the author of the epic poem "Shahnameh" (The Book of Kings). He was a contemporary of Mahmud Ghaznavi and was associated with his court, but he did not accompany Mahmud Ghaznavi on his campaigns to India. Firdoshi's contribution was primarily in literature, preserving Persian mythology and history through his extensive poetic work.

The incorrect option is (3): Bernier.
François Bernier was a French physician and traveler who visited India in the 17th century, during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He spent many years in India and wrote extensively about his experiences and observations in his book "Travels in the Mogul Empire." His accounts are a crucial source of information for understanding Mughal India, but his visit was centuries after Mahmud Ghaznavi's time.

The incorrect option is (4): Al-Biruni.
Al-Biruni was a Persian polymath who was a key figure during the Islamic Golden Age. He was a scholar who accompanied Mahmud Ghaznavi on his invasions of India in the early 11th century. Al-Biruni spent many years in India, where he studied Indian philosophy, science, and culture. His most famous work, "Kitab fi Tahqiq ma li'l-Hind" (commonly known as "Indica"), is a comprehensive treatise on Indian society, religion, and scientific knowledge of that era, making him the most relevant figure to the question.