Which of the following French travelers, who wrote accounts of what he saw, frequently comparing India with the situation in Europe, was closely associated with the Mughal court, as a physician to Prince Dara Shikoh?

The correct answer is Francois Bernier.

Key Points

• Francois Bernier
  • ​He was a French traveler.
  • He visited India during the reign of Shah Jahan.
  • He was closely associated with the Mughal court, as a physician to Prince Dara Shikoh and later was attached to the court of Aurangzeb.
  • He wrote the book 'Travels in the Mughal Empire'.​

Important Points

• ‘Travels in the Mughal Empire’ was written by Francois Bernier.
  • The book mainly talks about the rules of Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb. 
  • He reached Surat in 1658 A.D. and there he joined the entourage of Dara Shikoh as his physician, consequently, this was his first-ever encounter with the Mughals.
  • But soon he proceeded toward Ahmadabad, and with the passage of time, he worked under Danishmand Khan and lived in Aurangzeb’s court as a physician for twelve years.
  • The book talks about the court proceedings and the state of the native inhabitants.
  • It is based on his own extensive journeys and observations, and on information from eminent Mughal courtiers who had witnessed the events firsthand.
  • Bernier in his book "Travels in the Mughal Empire" has attempted to explain almost every aspect of the Mughal Empire viz.
    • Political developments,
    • The wealth of the emperors,
    • Economic conditions of the general populace,
    • Living conditions in Agra, Delhi, etc, customs, traditions, beliefs of the subjects,
  • Bernier has inexhaustibly and intricately provided the testimony of the political intrigues, the war of succession among the four sons of Shah Jahan, the strategies and methods of warfare, social and economic aspects of the empire, and its geographical and strategic extent.
  • In his travel accounts, Bernier described many big towns and cities such as Delhi, Mathura, Kashmir, Surat, Masulipatnam, and Golconda.​

Additional Information

• Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
  • He was a 17th-century French gem merchant and traveler.
  • He visited India during the reign of Shahjahan.
  • He traveled to India at least six times.
  • He wrote the book 'Travels in India'.
    • The book clearly states that Tavernier identified the diamond mining sites in India very clearly.
• Duarte Barbosa:
  • ​He was a Portuguese writer and Portuguese Indian officer between 1500 and 1516–1517.
  • He was posted as a scrivener in the Cannanore factory and occasionally served as an interpreter of the local language (Malayalam). 
  • His Book of Duarte Barbosa (Livro de Duarte Barbosa) is one of the earliest examples of Portuguese travel literature.
• Jesuit Roberto di Nobili
  • He was an Italian traveler.
  • He preached Christianity in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent.
  • After reaching Goa in 1605, he assimilated Indian culture.
  • He learned Sanskrit and Tamil.