In Mughal history, the autobiographical work “Baburnama” (Tuzuk-i-Baburi) written by Emperor Babur was originally composed in which language?

Introduction / Context:
This question comes from the cultural history of the Mughal Empire. Baburnama, also known as Tuzuk-i-Baburi, is the autobiography of Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India. It is an important source of information on his life, campaigns and observations about the lands he visited. The question asks in which language Babur originally wrote this work, which connects to his Central Asian background.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The book in question is Baburnama or Tuzuk-i-Baburi.
- It is an autobiographical account written by Babur himself.
- The options list several languages: Chagatai Turkish, Classical Persian, Arabic, Sanskrit and Ottoman Turkish.
- We assume awareness that Babur came from a Central Asian Turkic background and later ruled in India.

Concept / Approach:
Babur was a Timurid prince from Central Asia, and his mother tongue was a Turkic language known as Chagatai Turkish. He composed his memoirs in this language. Over time, Baburnama was translated into Persian, which later became the main language of administration and high culture in the Mughal court. However, the original composition was not in Persian but in Chagatai Turkish. The correct approach is therefore to connect Baburs Central Asian roots with the language he used in his personal writings.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Babur was born in the Fergana region of Central Asia and descended from Timur on one side and Genghis Khan on the other. Step 2: Understand that his native language was a Turkic dialect called Chagatai, widely used in the Timurid courts of Central Asia. Step 3: Remember that Baburnama is valued partly because it is a rare example of a royal autobiography written in a Turkic language rather than in Persian. Step 4: Note that while later Mughal emperors like Akbar and Jahangir often used Persian for chronicles, Babur s original text was in Chagatai Turkish. Step 5: Compare the options and select Chagatai Turkish (a Turkic language of Central Asia) as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of standard cultural history statements: they usually say that Babur wrote his autobiography in Chagatai Turkish and that it was later translated into Persian. Persian became widespread in the Mughal court later, but Babur s personal style remained tied to his Central Asian heritage. No major source claims that he wrote Baburnama originally in Arabic, Sanskrit or Ottoman Turkish. This consistency in the literature confirms that Chagatai Turkish is the correct language.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Classical Persian: While later Mughal chronicles were often written in Persian and Baburnama was translated into Persian, Babur s original text was not in this language.
Standard Arabic: Arabic was the liturgical language of Islam but not the main spoken or literary language of Babur s royal court.
Sanskrit: This was an ancient learned language of India, used for Hindu religious and philosophical texts, not for Babur s Central Asian autobiography.
Ottoman Turkish: This was the language of the Ottoman Empire based in modern-day Turkey, not Babur s Timurid court in Central Asia.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that all Mughal literature must have been written in Persian, since it later became the official language of the court. Another pitfall is to confuse different Turkic languages and guess Ottoman Turkish simply because it is a well known term. Remembering Babur s Central Asian origin and the specific phrase Chagatai Turkish, often mentioned in culture chapters, helps you confidently pick the right option.

Final Answer:
Baburnama was originally written by Babur in Chagatai Turkish (a Turkic language of Central Asia).