Al-Biruni Completes the Kitab al-Hind

The Persian scholar Al-Biruni visits the Indian subcontinent during the raids of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 CE. Today recognised as one of the earliest scholars of Indology, Al-Biruni writes a treatise titled Kitab Al-Hind, with observations on the cultural and social life in the subcontinent as its central focus. His account gives a glimpse into a period of transition that is seeing a growth in contact with Central Asia, as well as the consolidation of regional powers. He notes the suspicion that the locals have toward foreigners; makes comparative studies of Hinduism and Islam; and writes an incisive commentary on cultural life, noting the discriminatory practices of withholding information and the lack of proper recorded histories in the subcontinent.