Author: Craig Freese

Alberunis India
Travel writing was a popular and important style of writing, especially in premodern times. Travel writing, which often focuses on detailed descriptions and a personal log, is essentially supposed to be more than just details of the places the author visits. This form of writing does have many unique characteristics underneath the surface of boring and verbose description. The writing is usually focused on personal growth, destination, adventure, and a personal voice. Alberunis India is a thorough report of the culture, beliefs, and differences of India according to Alberuni. But Alberunis India is less an example of travel writing than it is an example of a biased and ethnographical commentary on Indians from a rich, educated, middle- eastern perspective. Alberunis text never clearly focuses on any other characteristic of travel writing other than the description of a foreign place to a familiar audience. There is no adventure or growth experienced by the author in his travel. Many would say travel is a voyage of discovery of the physical and of the self. Alberuni does not allow himself to grow and discover the culture he is immersed in. His only worry is to castigate the heathens of India for their inferior beliefs and practices. The whole text is concerned with pointing out the faults of the Indians ways with regard to the correct way the rich and educated people Alberuni knows do it. . . . he would, in folding, turn his masters garments inside out, . . . a consequence of the innate perversity of the Hindu nature. (Alberuni, p.185) In most travel narratives, the author starts to adapt and accept the ideas and traditions of the country. Alberuni never lets himself become too close to the Indians he observes and writes about. He remains an outsider looking in and criticizing what is new and unique to him. In

most parts of my work I simply relate without criticising, unless there be special reason for doing so. (Alberuni, p.25) What is also unique about Alberunis text is how we learn information about the author. Many travel narratives reveal the travelers personality either directly or in the context of adventure tale. The reader learns about Alberuni from the judgments he passes on the people of India that he observes. Through the comparisons of the foreigners to the customs Alberuni thinks are correct, the reader is able to decipher his societal status, beliefs, customs, and life philosophy. By telling us what he considers to be strange, and wrong he is in effect also telling the reader who he is. To the reader, Alberuni comes across as hypocritical, unwelcoming of change, and argumentative. As a reader Alberunis text does not fit the label of travel writing. Not only are there very few elements of a traditional travel narrative, the arguments presented seem unreliable and forced. What we can take it for is a semi accurate portrayal of India, from an outsiders amazed point of view.