The correct option is Tobacco
Explanation
The introduction of New World crops to India occurred primarily through European traders, particularly the Portuguese, during the 16th and 17th centuries. This period, often referred to as the Columbian Exchange, significantly altered Indian agriculture and consumption habits.
Historical
- Tobacco: This crop was introduced to India by the Portuguese. It first established a foothold in the Deccan kingdoms (such as Bijapur and Golconda) in the late 16th century. It was subsequently brought to Northern India and the Mughal court. Historical records, specifically the account of Asad Beg Qazvini, mention that he brought tobacco and a smoking pipe from Bijapur to Emperor Akbar's court in 1604-1605. By the reign of Jahangir, its consumption had become so widespread that he attempted to ban it in 1617, citing health concerns.
- Maize: While also a New World crop, evidence suggests maize may have entered India earlier or through different routes, and it did not follow the specific "Deccan to North" trajectory as prominently recorded for tobacco in the early 17th century.
- Potato and Tomato: These crops were also introduced by Europeans but became significant parts of the Indian diet much later, primarily in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were not the subject of the specific early 17th-century diffusion from the Deccan to the Mughal North described in contemporary chronicles.
Key Takeaway:
Tobacco is the specific crop recorded to have arrived in the Deccan via the Portuguese and then spread to Northern India (Mughal Court) in the early 17th century, famously noted during the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir.