Q. Consider the following statements:
1.It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince.
2.It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus.
3.It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2
c) 3 only
d) 2 and 3
Correct Answer: a) 1 only
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 GS Paper
Explanation :
Analysis of Historical Statements
The first statement indicates that during the reign of Iltutmish, Chengiz Khan reached the Indus River while in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince. This historical fact is accurate as Genghis Khan did pursue Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu to the Indus around 1221, which coincides with Iltutmish’s rule from 1211 to 1236.
Contrarily, the second statement about Muhammad bin Tughluq is incorrect. Taimur, also known as Timur or Tamerlane, invaded India and reached Multan in 1398, which was after Muhammad bin Tughluq’s reign, which ended in 1351. The ruler at the time of Timur’s invasion was Mahmud Tughluq.
The third statement is also incorrect, as it incorrectly aligns the reign of Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara Empire with the arrival of Vasco da Gama to the coast of Kerala. Vasco da Gama arrived in 1498, whereas Deva Raya II’s rule ended in 1446, more than half a century earlier.