Question

The diary of Athanasius (Afanasi) Nikitin, the first Russian traveller to India, is entitled_______.
A. A passage to India
B. The land of miracles
C. The journey beyond the three seas
D. Travel to the land of honey and gold

Answer 1

Hint: The Indian subcontinent, from the ancient times, has been open to visitors and travellers belonging to diverse origins, who usually left their accounts and travelogues which later served as significant sources. It was the 15th century that welcomed the footsteps of the earliest Russian traveller in India, named Afanasy Nikitin.

Complete answer: Afanasy Nikitin was a Russian merchant and the first European to come to India in order to leave behind its comprehensive documentation. In 1466, departing from his hometown Tver (Russia), he started a long journey towards the land that lay beyond the three seas namely Caspian sea, black sea and Arabian sea. He landed in Mumbai and toured India for 3 years, producing a diary named “the journey beyond the three seas”. However, this journey was totally a commercial one rather than being a religious one.
Looking at the options given:
Option A. A passage to India is an incorrect option as this book was written by E.M. Forster and was themed with the British raj in India and its discourse of independence of 1947.
Option B. The land of miracles is an incorrect one as the land of miracles is basically referred to Korea and not India, through the book of Simon Winchester.
Option C. The journey beyond the three seas - Afanasy Nikitin journeyed through Iran and Arabia to ultimately reach India for which he had to cross 3 seas namely Caspian, black and Arabian sea. This is the correct answer.
Option D. The land of honey and gold is an incorrect option as there was no travelogue diary named as such.
Therefore, Option C is correct.

Note: The diary by Afanasy Nikitin throws light upon the Islamic culture of this region and proves to be a significant source. The account’s translation by Richard H Major is named as ”The Travels of Athanasius Nikitin”.