Two Persian Geniuses’ on Indian Travel

Central Asian travelers like Al Biruni and Abdurrazzaq were enchanted by the allure of Calicut, one of the most famous ports in the medieval world. Their journeys to this bustling city were driven by a deep passion for cross-cultural exchange, which inspired them to document their travels extensively, leaving an enduring legacy of cultural understanding.

Al Biruni. Image Source: TRT World

Persia or Central Asia was the educational center of the medieval world.. During the dark age of Europe, it caught the helm of the planet. Many scholars flowed into Central Asia for ‘post-graduation’. Many artisans settled in its towns. The engineers flourished under their kings. Their townships still remain unparalleled. Their architecture is still considered among the wonders of the world. Even their textiles remain luxurious.

Al Biruni and Abdurrazzaq were two famous Persian or Central Asian travelers who visited India during the medieval period. The latter came to India as an Ambassador to Calicut which was one of the most famous ports of the medieval world. The former visited India over his passion to explore different cultures. Al Biruni was supported by Mahmud Ghazni and Abdurrazzaq was sent by the Timurids.

These Central Asian travelers set out to find out more about different countries. The kings often supported such missions to record history with funding and accommodation.

Let us talk about Al Biruni. If we were to describe Al Biruni in one word, we could never call him a traveler. This is not because he did not go on any expeditions but because many other qualities of Al Biruni overshadow him as a traveler. He was a polymath, physician, mathematician, astronomer, natural scientist, linguist, historian, and expert in so many other areas.

His complete name was Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahamad al Biruni. He was born in AD 973 in today’s Uzbekistan. In the medieval era, it was called Khwarazm. It was the birthplace of another legendary mathematician, Mohammed IbnuMusa who founded Algebra. He spent most of his time in Ghazni, the capital of the Ghaznavids.

In the 1000s he traveled to India. He explored different Indian cultures, festivals, ethnicities, and communities. His major focus was on the Hindu religion practiced in India. Amassing the information he got during his travels, he wrote a book titled Tarikul Hind (The history of India). This book is highly acclaimed among historians for its objective style of narration and impartial description.

Biruni was traveling under the patronage of the famous ruler Mahmud of Ghazni. Due to his impartial narration of history and objectivity, he was called ‘al ustad’. Al Biruni chronicled the history of India through the lens of the Muslim community. Despite the book being written in Arabic, which was an obvious choice, his contributions to Indian history cannot be overstated. His work stands as a testament to his invaluable insight and meticulous documentation. His records are still a major source of history about the Ghaznavid period.

Al Biruni was a historian who traveled to pursue his different fields of passion. But, there was a person who was forced to travel and write history. Abdurrazzaq never wanted to cross the sea and discover the territories but was forced to do so. He was sent by the Timurids as an ambassador of Calicut (Calicut was one of the most famous cities of the medieval world). Accepting the order of Sultan Shah Rukh he left Herat in 1442 and set out on the voyage. En route, he fell ill and rested in Oman but resumed his travel to Calicut after recovering.

Abdurrazzaq’s account of Calicut contains valuable information about its culture and society. He likened Calicut to the then-famous Hurmuz (Persian Gulf) in its safety and international trade. He also described the availability of materials from the different parts of the world in Calicut. He also gave valuable information about the attire of the people of Calicut.

To quote his words about Calicut – “From Calicut, vessels are continually sailing for Mecca, mostly carrying pepper. The inhabitants of Calicut are adventurous sailors and are known as Sons of China. The pirates of the sea do not molest the ships of Calicut. Everything is procurable in that port.”

Historians will forever be in debt for the archives of explorers like Al Biruni and Abdurrazzaq. They have been the greatest source of groundbreaking facts along with the traced paths of cultural and ethnic exchange.

Abdurrazzaq Image source: Jagran Josh