Assertion (A) - Al-Biruni wrote about the subcontinent in his book Kit...
Assertion (A): Al-Biruni wrote about the subcontinent in his book Kitab ul-Hind.
Reasoning (R): Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was interested in finding out more about the people he conquered.
The correct option is (A) - Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation:
Al-Biruni was a prominent Persian scholar and polymath who lived during the 11th century. He was known for his wide range of studies and writings on various subjects, including astronomy, mathematics, geography, history, and cultural anthropology. One of his notable works is the book "Kitab ul-Hind" or "The Book of India," which provides a comprehensive account of the Indian subcontinent.
Al-Biruni's Book Kitab ul-Hind:
In his book Kitab ul-Hind, Al-Biruni extensively documented his observations and research on the Indian subcontinent. He studied various aspects of Indian society, including its culture, religion, languages, and scientific achievements. The book covers a wide range of topics, such as geography, history, astronomy, astrology, medicine, and social customs of the Indian people. Al-Biruni's work in Kitab ul-Hind is considered one of the most important sources of information about medieval India.
Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni:
Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was the ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire, which was centered in present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is known for his numerous military campaigns, particularly against the Indian subcontinent. Mahmud launched multiple expeditions into India between 1000 and 1027 CE, with the primary objective of acquiring wealth and expanding his empire.
Reasoning behind Al-Biruni's writing:
As Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni conquered various parts of the Indian subcontinent, he became interested in the people, culture, and knowledge of the region. He wanted to learn more about the society he had conquered and the intellectual achievements of the Indian civilization. To fulfill this curiosity, Mahmud invited scholars from different fields to his court, including Al-Biruni.
Al-Biruni, being a scholar well-versed in various subjects, was ideally suited to explore and document the knowledge and culture of the Indian subcontinent. He took the opportunity provided by Mahmud's patronage to extensively study the region and write about his observations and findings. Thus, Al-Biruni's book Kitab ul-Hind can be seen as a result of Sultan Mahmud's interest in understanding the people he had conquered.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, both assertion (A) - Al-Biruni wrote about the subcontinent in his book Kitab ul-Hind, and reasoning (R) - Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was interested in finding out more about the people he conquered, are true. Furthermore, the reasoning provides a logical explanation for the assertion, making option (A) the correct choice.
Assertion (A) - Al-Biruni wrote about the subcontinent in his book Kit...
- Al-Biruni wrote Kitab ul-Hind which is the survey of Indian life based on his observation in between 1017-1030 AD.
- Mahmud of Ghazni was the first Turk ruler to be known as Sultan.
- He ruled from 997 to 1030 A.D.
- He extended control over parts of Central Asia, Iran and the north-western part of the subcontinent.
- He raided the subcontinent almost every year and his targets were wealthy temples including Somnath Temple of Gujarat.
- He used most of the wealth to create a splendid capital city at Ghazni.
- He was interested in finding out more about the people he conquered.
- Due to this, he entrusted a scholar named Al-Biruni to write an account of the subcontinent.
- This Arabic work, known as the Kitab ul-Hind, remains an important source for historians.
- Al-Biruni consulted Sanskrit scholars to prepare this account.
Based on the above discussion we can conclude that, Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
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