The correct option is 1 only
Explanation
Abu Rayhan al-Biruni was a renowned polymath and scholar from Khwarizm (modern-day Uzbekistan). His association with India began through the geopolitical expansions of the Ghaznavid Empire under Sultan Mahmud.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: In 1017 CE, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Khwarizm. Following the conquest, he took several scholars and poets back to his capital, Ghazni, as hostages or court members. Al-Biruni was among those brought to Ghazni, where he spent much of the rest of his life and developed an interest in India.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Al-Biruni was instrumental in the exchange of knowledge between the Islamic world and India. He translated several Sanskrit works, such as Patanjali’s work on grammar and yoga, into Arabic. Conversely, to share Greek knowledge with Indian scholars, he translated the works of Euclid (a Greek mathematician) into Sanskrit, not into Arabic. Euclid’s works had already been translated into Arabic by earlier scholars during the Abbasid period.
Key Takeaway:
Al-Biruni acted as a cultural bridge, translating Sanskrit texts into Arabic (e.g., Patanjali) and Greek texts into Sanskrit (e.g., Euclid), facilitating cross-cultural intellectual exchange.