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Several European travellers' visited India during the
17th century who wrote
valuable accounts of their observations and experiences in the form of memoirs, diaries
and travelogues. Moreover elaborate personal letters, communications addressed to
their friends in Europe and above all official papers and reports were
sent to Kings, nobles
and officials. The French travellers particularly Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Jean
Thevenot, Abbe Carre and Francois Martin have left extremely valuable travel accounts
which provide interesting and incisive understanding of
the contemporary Indian society and several facets of
that period. Amongst them, Francois Bernier's Travels in the
Mogul Empire AD 1656-1668 stands prominent in respect of its uniqueness and
distinctiveness but it can't be called as biography. This account is composed of several letters with
critical in-depth examination of Oriental world for the French audience. This can be
more appropriately termed as an autobiography or
memoir-cum-travel account.
In this paper, an attempt has been made to explore the scientific background of
Francois Bernier and his mindset behind his travel accounts. Bernier enjoyed unrivalled opportunities
of observation in India. He was acquainted with the leading philosophers of his days, was
fully conversant with methods of historical and philosophical discourse and was capable of
looking beyond the immediate occasion of an event to its ultimate
cause. The scientific education and lessons of experimental research received by
Bernier from his teacher Pierre
Gassendi enable him to compare the different social and political structures in the oriental and
occidental worlds. Further, an assessment is made
of Bernier's observations different superstitious practices, illogical customs and traditions witnessed by him in some Indian
domains, especially the Medieval Indian courtly culture, education system, religions and
medical science. Although, Bernier presented the superiority of French system in the
above mentioned facets, but on many occasions, he compared them with some
irrational customs being witnessed in France. Lastly, the shortcomings attached to Bernier's
travel account are also examined. |
