Jignasa Journal Of History Of Ideas And Culture Part 02

Author(s): Vibha Upadhyaya and Others
Publisher: University of Rajasthan

Page 66

282 / Jijñāsā
38. From Cultural Routes to Cultural Roots:
Ibn Battuta's Observations of Fourteenth Century North India
Sunita Zaidi
India was always a region of attraction for the people of other parts of the world. People of different races migrated to India and some settled here, like Aryans, Hunas, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Mughals, Africans (Abbysinians) and Europeans. They had varied reasons to come here:
(i) Some came with the sole object to take away India's wealth preserved in the magnificent temples
(ii) Second group came with a purpose to establish their political hegemony like Turks and Mongols.
(iii) Third group came to India with altogether different aims and interests, and these consisted of travellers who were curious to know about India's unique socio-cultural, religious and economic potential. The earliest known references to India are found in the works of ancient Greeks. Herodotus (C.485-428 B.C.) refers to India in his works. Megasthenes (C. 305 B.C.) compiled Indica which contains vivid description of the court of Chandragupta and the general condition of India. Another important Greek work Peripulus of the Erythrean Sea by an anonymous author has a detailed account of Indian harbour and maritime activities.
Others who exposed India's socio-cultural milieu to their respective native regions were the Chinese travellers. Fahien, Hiuen Tsang and Itsing came to study Buddhism and visited holy places. Their accounts contain immense information of religious practices and political and social conditions of the people also. Then the Arab accounts of scholars and merchants provide significant information about Indian society, economy and polity. Al-Beruni, an important visitor who was grossly interested to know about Indian religious way of life, interacted with the Brahmanas, learnt Sanskrit and had partial knowledge of India. As an eye witness he provides lively information about India. Thus there was continuous inflow of foreign visitors before and after Ibn Battuta's visit to India.
In the 15th century which was the time of decline of Delhi Sultanate, one does not come across many travellers visiting India. But 16th, 17th and 18th centuries saw continuous inflow of the travellers of different nationalities. They had various aims and interests. Some were interested in trade and commerce and some, like Jesuit fathers, were interested in religious activities, and others were interested to know more intimately about India's rich cultural heritage. Besides these visitors having personal