Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
A
Jahangir: William Hawkins
B
Akbar: Sir Thomas Roe
C
Shahjahan: Tavernier
D
Aurangzeb: Manucci
Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation
1. The question asks to identify the correctly matched pair of Mughal emperor/ruler and European visitor/envoy.
2. (A) Jahangir: William Hawkins. Hawkins, an English East India Company representative, visited Jahangir's court in Agra from 1609 to 1611. This pair is correctly matched.
3. (B) Akbar: Sir Thomas Roe. Sir Thomas Roe was an ambassador of King James I of England to the court of Emperor Jahangir (not Akbar), arriving in 1615. This pair is incorrect.
4. (C) Shahjahan: Tavernier. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French gem merchant and traveler, made several voyages to India between the 1630s and 1660s, covering the reigns of both Shahjahan and Aurangzeb. So, this pair is also correctly matched.
5. (D) Aurangzeb: Manucci. Niccolao Manucci, an Italian writer and traveler, spent most of his adult life in India, serving under Dara Shikoh and later living through much of Aurangzeb's reign. This pair is also correctly matched.
6. Since the format implies only one correct option and multiple pairs seem correct (A, C, D), there might be ambiguity or a specific focus intended by the examiner (e.g., first significant visit). However, based on the provided answer key C, we select Shahjahan: Tavernier as the intended correct match.