The correct option is
2 and 3 only
.Explanation
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605-1689) was a prominent French gem merchant and traveller who visited India six times during the 17th century. His accounts are primary sources for understanding the economic history, trade networks, and diamond industry of the Mughal Empire, specifically during the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Tavernier was a jeweller and merchant, not a physician. It was his contemporary and fellow Frenchman, Francois Bernier, who was a physician and served Prince Dara Shukoh and later attached himself to the Mughal court.
- Statement 2 is Correct: As a merchant dealing in high-value commodities like diamonds and gems, Tavernier was deeply interested in and fascinated by the trading conditions in India. His writings provide elaborate details on India's diamond mines (such as Golconda), currency, weights, measures, and commercial practices.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Tavernier travelled overland to India through the Middle East. In his accounts, he frequently compared India with Iran (Persia) and the Ottoman Empire, discussing aspects such as the safety of roads, the nature of governance, and the prosperity of the regions.
Key Takeaway:
A crucial distinction in Mughal historiography is between Francois Bernier (a physician and political philosopher who critiqued the Mughal land ownership system) and Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (a gem merchant who focused on trade, economy, and diamonds).