Correct Option
The correct option is (a) 1 only.
Explanation
The Delhi Sultanate established a distinct administrative and cultural framework in the Indian subcontinent. A key feature of this state was the adoption of Persian culture and language, which served as the medium for governance, court proceedings, and historical record-keeping.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Under the Delhi Sultans, Persian was the official language of administration. It was used for royal orders (farmans), correspondence, and record-keeping in the revenue and judicial departments. This facilitated a unified administrative system across the diverse regions of the empire.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The tawarikh (plural of tarikh, meaning history) were historical accounts written by learned men, secretaries, administrators, poets, and courtiers. These histories were written in Persian, not Arabic. The authors of tawarikh lived in cities (mainly Delhi) and wrote histories for Sultans in the hope of rich rewards.
Key Takeaway
Persian was the sole language of administration and court history (tawarikh) under the Delhi Sultanate, whereas Arabic was primarily restricted to religious texts and theology.