With reference to early European presence at the Mughal Court, consider the following statements: 1. Captain William Hawkins was the first representative from the East India Company to visit the court of Jahangir, who secured an imperial farman to establish a factory in Surat. 2. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a renowned French traveler and diamond merchant, visited India during the reign of Shah Jahan and provided valuable accounts of the Mughal court and infrastructure. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? |ForumIAS

[A] 1 only

[B] 2 only

[C] Both 1 and 2

[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Notes:

Explanation:

Statement 1: Incorrect. Captain Hawkins (1609-1611 CE) failed to obtain the farman (imperial decree) for permanent settlement due to Portuguese opposition. It was Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1619 CE) who later succeeded in securing the imperial patronage from Jahangir.
Statement 2: Correct. Tavernier made six voyages to the East, covering the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. His account, Travels in India, is a key source on the period, particularly regarding the diamond mines (like Golconda) and the Peacock Throne.