Who among the following was associated with the Mughal Court as a physician to Prince Dara Shukoh?

Francois Bernier, a French physician and traveler, was associated with the Mughal court during the 17th century. He served as the personal physician to Prince Dara Shukoh (also spelled Shikoh), the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan. Dara Shukoh, known as the 'Philosopher Prince' for his interest in Sufism and the translation of the Upanishads, was the primary rival to Aurangzeb during the war of succession [2]. Bernier arrived in India around 1656 and witnessed the political turmoil of the era [4]. While other travelers like Nicolao Manucci also served Dara Shukoh, Bernier is the most prominent European physician linked to the prince in historical accounts [4]. Other options like Ibn Battuta and Duarte Barbosa belong to the 14th and 16th centuries respectively, predating the reign of Shah Jahan.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > European Factories/Settlements during Mughal Rule > p. 210
2. [2] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > Aurangzeb > p. 42
3. [4] https://www.msuniv.ac.in/images/distance%20education/learning%20materials/ug%20pg%202023/pg%202021/MA%20history%202021/II%20Semester%20-%20DHIM22%20-%20History%20of%20India%20712%20-1765%20A.D.pdf