The correct option is
1 and 3 only
.Explanation
The concept of "Oriental Despotism" is a Eurocentric theoretical framework used by Western thinkers to describe the nature of governance and society in Asia (particularly the Mughal Empire). It was heavily influenced by the accounts of European travelers who visited India during the 17th century.Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The concept was significantly developed by the French philosopher Montesquieu in his work The Spirit of the Laws. He based his arguments on the accounts of Francois Bernier, a French physician who lived in India for twelve years during the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. Bernier described the Mughal Empire as contrary to European ideals.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The theory of Oriental Despotism argued that the ruler in Asian societies enjoyed absolute power and was not subject to the will of the nobility or laws. Unlike in Europe, where a hereditary aristocracy acted as a check on the king, Bernier and Montesquieu argued that the Mughal nobility (Omrahs) were dependent entirely on the emperor for their appointments and jagirs, making the king the sole authority.
- Statement 3 is Correct: A central tenet of this theory was the absence of private property in land. Bernier asserted that the king was the sole owner of all land, which he distributed at will. He argued that this lack of private ownership prevented the emergence of a class that could improve the land, leading to agricultural decline and the oppression of the peasantry.