Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 145

Tawarikh was written in which language?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Consider the historical context of the Tawarikh and the language commonly used by its author.

Correct Answer: C) Persian

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, Bank PO, Civil Services

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

Tawarikh is a historical text written by the renowned scholar and historian Amir Khusrow. The term "Tawarikh" is derived from the Arabic word "Tarikh," which means "history." However, it is important to distinguish between the origin of the term and the language in which the text was actually written.

Amir Khusrow was a prominent figure in the Delhi Sultanate during the 13th and 14th centuries. He was a polymath, known for his contributions to literature, music, and historiography. The language of the Tawarikh is Persian, which was the dominant literary language of the time in the Indian subcontinent. Persian was widely used in the courts and among the educated elite, and many historical and literary works were written in this language.

It is crucial to understand the historical context of the time. During the Delhi Sultanate and the subsequent Mughal Empire, Persian was the language of administration, literature, and historiography. This was due to the influence of Persian culture and the fact that Persian was the lingua franca of the region. Therefore, when historical texts were written, they were often composed in Persian to reach a wider audience and to be preserved in a language that was considered prestigious and scholarly.

While Sanskrit and Hindi were also languages used in the Indian subcontinent, they were not the primary languages for historical texts during the period when Tawarikh was written. Sanskrit was a classical language used in religious and philosophical texts, while Hindi was not yet established as a literary language. Thus, the choice of Persian for Tawarikh reflects the cultural and linguistic trends of the time.

In summary, the Tawarikh was written in Persian, which was the literary language of the time in the Indian subcontinent. This choice of language was influenced by the cultural and administrative practices of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire, where Persian was widely used for official and literary purposes.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: Incorrect. While the term "Tawarikh" is derived from Arabic, the text itself was not written in Arabic. The text was written in Persian, which was the literary language of the time in the Indian subcontinent.
  • Option B: Incorrect. Hindi was not a literary language during the time when Tawarikh was written. The text was written in Persian, which was the dominant literary language of the period.
  • Option C: Correct. Tawarikh was written in Persian by the scholar Amir Khusrow. Persian was the literary language of the time in the Indian subcontinent, and many historical texts were written in this language.
  • Option D: Incorrect. Sanskrit was a classical language of India, but it was not the language in which Tawarikh was written. The text was written in Persian, which was the literary language of the time.

Mnemonic: Think "Persian" for "P" in "Tawarikh."

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