Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Sama Lavoni ¹

Affiliations
1 Dept. of History, University of Delhi, Delhi, IN

Abstract

This paper critically analyses a few observations documented by Francois Bernier, French traveller and physician, during his stay in the Mughal Empire of Aurangzeb's (1656-1707 A.D.) time in the seventeenth century. Bernier has endeavoured to elucidate upon almost every aspect of the Mughal Empire viz. political developments, wealth of the emperors, economic conditions of the general populace, living conditions in Agra, Delhi etc, customs, traditions, beliefs of the subjects and so on. No doubt the author provides first hand interesting information on seventeenth century Mughal Empire, but at times his comparative analysis of the West and East clearly reflects his propensity of superior feeling towards West, and also the idea of otherness, the other being India.

Keywords

War of Succession, Ownership of Land, Oriental Despotism, Encampment, Sati System, Travelogue.

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Sama Lavoni ¹

Affiliations
1 University of Delhi, Delhi, IN

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to understand and analyse the migration through the Indian Ocean basin by the Hadrami Sayyids from Hadramawt in Yemen. The consequent of the diaspora thus undertaken are diverse leading to many socio-cultural, economic and also to some extent political alterations in the place of migration as well as back at homeland. Genealogy has been one of the most distinct and essential element in the whole passage of the diaspora that enabled the itinerants to absorb in the local set up and predisposed them in a cosmopolitan character. Moreover the Alawi Sufi Way also has a greater say in the whole of the state of migration connecting the site of origin from the graves of Tarim, diaspora and the point of destination back at the graves in Tarim. This paper should be, in its essence, read as a review of the Graves of Tarim by Ho Engseng.

Keywords

Genealogy, Diaspora, Territorial Patriotism, Cosmopolitanism, Alawi Sufi Way.

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