Alberuni or Al-Beruni (English: Al-Biruni, born- 15 September, 973 AD, Khwarizm, Persia; died- 13 December, 1048 AD, Ghazni, Afghanistan) was a Persian scholar, writer, scientist, theologian and thinker. He was a resident of ‘Rabiva’. He was born in ‘Khwarizm’. Khwarizm was conquered by Mahmud Ghaznavi in 1017 AD. Alberuni was brought to Ghazni as a prisoner in front of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. Impressed by his scholarship, Mahmud Ghaznavi appointed him as the ‘Raj Jyotish’ of his kingdom. Alberuni also wrote a book called ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’. Alberuni was an expert in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Sanskrit, mathematics and astronomy.
‘Kitab ul Hind’ was the most popular book among the total 14 books written by Alberuni.
His book is considered to be the main source of the history of South Asia.
Alberuni came to India with the army of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi and stayed in Punjab for many years.
His real name was ‘Abu Raihan Muhammad’, but he is better known as ‘Alberuni’, which means ‘Master’.
He was a great scholar. While living in India, he studied Sanskrit as a subject with great love and also studied Hindu philosophy and other scriptures in depth.
On the basis of this study, he wrote a book named ‘Tahqiq-e-Hind’ (Discovery of India).
In this book, the history, character, conduct, traditions and scientific knowledge of Hindus have been described in detail.
In this we get an authentic and invaluable account of the Indian history and culture before the invasion of the Muslims.
Many of his books are out of print, but the one that is available, ‘The Chronology of Ancient Nations’, translated into English by Sachau, is enough to prove his scholarship.
