Q.46 Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India. GS-I: ART AND CULTURE (UPSC CSE 2018) (150 words/10 marks)

Answer:

Introduction

Broadly, there are two types of historical sources i.e. material and literary. Among the literary sources, foreign accounts are important as they record the observations made by sailors, merchants, missionaries, and travellers. In the Indian context, the Chinese and Arab travelogues provide us rich information about political, economic, and socio-cultural aspects w.r.t. different periods of history. Not only these travel accounts supplement the other sources but also, they help in establishing the authenticity of particular information.

Body

The accounts of Chinese and Arab travellers provide first-hand information about the polity, economy, society, and culture of the times of their visits to India. Well-known travellers like Fa-Hien, Hiuen Tsang, I-Tsing, Sulaiman, Al-Masudi, and Al-Biruni documented their observations and experiences with meticulous detail. Chinese travellers, under the influence of Buddhism, provided insights into the socio-religious and spiritual aspects. The Arabs focused more on trade, economy, culture, and governance etc. Notable Chinese travellers visited India mostly during the Gupta and Post-Gupta periods, while Arab travellers came during the medieval times.

Fa Hien visited India during the reign of Chandra Gupta-II. In his travelogue Fu-Kwo-Ki, he mentions that under the liberal administration of the Gupta rulers, the people enjoyed economic prosperity as the taxes were not heavy. They were content with their lives, and public morality was high. Buddhism and Hinduism were the most popular religions, and the Buddhist Sanghas provided education to students coming from different parts of India. He extensively wrote about Pataliputra along with the Buddhist locations, the Silk Route, and other places.

Hiuen Tsang visited India during the rule of Harshavardhan. In his book Si-yu-ki, he describes the city- life wherein he mentioned various types of houses and construction materials. Prayag was an important city, and Pataliputra was replaced by Kannauj. Instead of Shravasti and Kapilvastu, Nalanda and Valabhi emerged as the centres of Buddhist learning. He described that Indians used various types of cotton, silk, and wool for garments. He portrayed Indians as the lovers of education, literature, and fine arts. In his book, he highlights that Harsha divided the state income into four parts. The major source was land revenue collected at the rate of 1/6^th of the produce. I-Tsing visited India after the death of Harsha. He did not write any travelogue; however, he described the Buddhist practices in India.

The most notable Arab travellers who wrote about India were Al-Masudi, Al-Beruni, and Ibn Battuta. Travelers like Al-Beruni and Ibn Battuta had personal contacts with the people of the Indian subcontinent which enabled them to give detailed first-hand information about the economic, social, and other activities of the people.

Al-Masudi was a 10^th century historian, geographer, and traveller. In his book Muruz-ul-Zehab, he pointed out the diversity of India in terms language and religion in different kingdoms (Palas, Gurjara- Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas) that fought with each other. He admires the secular outlook of the Hindu rulers of India who protected the minority communities and the followers of other religions. He described the Indus Valley, river Ganges and other parts of India like Gujarat, Malabar, and Kashmir. He informs us about the brisk trade between eastern India and Malacca, and the Straits of Malacca as the conduit for ships from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. He gave a good account of the monsoon wins of the Bay of Bengal.

Al-Beruni described the 11^th century India in his book Kitab-ul-Hind. He talks about religion and philosophy, festivals, mathematics, astronomy, alchemy, manners and customs, social life, weights and measures, iconography, laws, and metrology. He depicted India as a land of diversity, rich in culture, religion, and scientific knowledge. He highlighted the role of caste system in India’s social structure and the influence of Hinduism on everyday life. He also documented various ruling dynasties and their governance. He admired India’s scientific achievements and studied Indian numerals, which later came to be known as Arabic numerals.

Ibn Battuta‘s Rehla provides a vivid account of India during the 14th century. In his travels, he portrays India as a land of immense diversity, rich in culture, religion, and commerce. He describes the vastness of the Indian subcontinent, its bustling cities, and vibrant markets. He documents the influence of various ruling dynasties, such as the Delhi Sultanate, on the political landscape of the region. He also provides insights into the social structure, including the caste system and the role of religion in everyday life. He discussed Indian trade and commerce, highlighting the importance of ports such as Calicut and Cambay in facilitating maritime trade with the Middle East and beyond. He also noted the abundance of spices, textiles, and precious stones in Indian markets, which attracted merchants from far and wide. It is Battuta’s chronicles that give an insight into the postal courier system that was operational in India. He also mentioned ascetics (Jogis), and the practice of Sati. His description of trees and fruits is most interesting, with an adoration for the jackfruit.

Conclusion

The accounts of Chinese and Arab travellers document the transmission of ideas, knowledge, and technologies across the Indian subcontinent, the Arab world, and China. Though there are issues associated with their reliability due to personal biases of the travellers, still they are very helpful in finding the missing links in the reconstruction of Indian history. These travelogues certainly assist historians in the evaluating the conditions of India during ancient and medieval times. They help in creating a full picture when used with the other sources.