Q. He was a Frenchman and a physician by profession. He was attached to the court of Shah Jahan and was witness to the war of succession between Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb. The reference here is to
(a) Nicolao Manucci
(b) Fernao Nuniz
(c) Francois Bernier
(d) Jean Baptiste Tavernier
Ans: (c) Francois Bernier
Explanation: The correct answer is (c) Francois Bernier.
Francois Bernier was a French physician who traveled to India and became attached to the court of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor. He served as the personal physician to Dara Shikoh, one of Shah Jahan’s sons. Bernier witnessed the war of succession that took place between Dara Shikoh and his brother Aurangzeb after Shah Jahan’s illness. He documented his experiences and observations in his travelogue titled “Travels in the Mogul Empire.” Bernier’s writings provide valuable insights into the political and social conditions of the Mughal Empire during that period.
