Correct Option
The correct option is Ibn Battuta.
Explanation
Travelogues serve as vital primary sources for reconstructing the social, cultural, and political history of medieval India. Kitab-ul-Rihla (often referred to simply as the Rihla) is a renowned travelogue written in Arabic, documenting the extensive travels of the Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta.
Detailed Analysis:
- Al-Biruni is incorrect: Al-Biruni was a Persian scholar who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni in the 11th century. His seminal work is Kitab-ul-Hind (Tahqiq-i-Hind), which provides a detailed account of Indian philosophy, sciences, and culture during the early medieval period.
- Ibn Battuta is correct: Ibn Battuta arrived in India in 1333 CE during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq. He served as a Qazi (judge) in Delhi for several years. His book, Kitab-ul-Rihla, offers rich details regarding the postal system, slavery, trade, and the socio-cultural life of the subcontinent in the 14th century.
- Abdur Razzaq is incorrect: Abdur Razzaq was a Persian ambassador sent by Shah Rukh (Timurid dynasty) to the court of the Zamorin of Calicut and later to the Vijayanagara Empire (reign of Devaraya II) in the 15th century. His work is titled Matla-us-Sadain wa Majma-ul-Bahrain.
- Mahmud Wali Balkhi is incorrect: Mahmud Wali Balkhi was a traveler from Balkh who visited India in the 17th century during the Mughal period (reign of Shah Jahan). He authored Bahr-ul-Asrar.
Key Takeaway:
Ibn Battuta authored Kitab-ul-Rihla, providing a comprehensive account of the Tughlaq dynasty and 14th-century Indian society, distinct from Al-Biruni's 11th-century Kitab-ul-Hind.