Which European traveller observed that a Hindu woman could go anywhere alone without fearing impertinent looks or jokes from idle loungers?

Introduction / Context:
European travellers and observers left many accounts of social life in India during the pre colonial and early colonial periods. Their writings provide important insights into customs, gender relations and everyday behaviour, although they also reflect their own biases. This question focuses on a specific quotation about Hindu women being able to move freely in public without fear of impertinent looks, and asks which European observer made this remark.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Four European travellers or observers are listed: Francois Bernier, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Thomas Roe and Abbe J. A. Dubois.
• The quotation talks about Hindu women moving alone safely in crowded public places.
• We assume some familiarity with which texts and observations each of these figures is known for.

Concept / Approach:
Bernier and Tavernier were seventeenth century travellers who wrote about the Mughal court and trade. Thomas Roe was an English ambassador at the Mughal court. Abbe J. A. Dubois was a French missionary who spent many years in southern India and wrote a detailed ethnographic work on Hindu manners and customs. His descriptions often include comments on social conduct, such as how women moved in public spaces. By matching the style and focus of the quotation to the writers, we can identify Abbe Dubois as the most likely source.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the quotation is an observation about everyday social life and behaviour of ordinary Hindus, not specifically about royal courts or high politics. Step 2: Francois Bernier wrote extensively about the Mughal court, the nobility and political structures. While he did mention social issues, his main focus was not ethnographic description of common customs in the same detailed way as some later writers. Step 3: Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a jeweller and merchant whose writings concentrate on trade, precious stones and his travels, not primarily on nuanced social comments about women safety in public spaces. Step 4: Thomas Roe wrote about diplomatic missions and negotiations at the Mughal court and about his experiences as an ambassador. His accounts are less focused on detailed descriptions of Hindu social life at the village level. Step 5: Abbe J. A. Dubois, a French missionary, lived in India for many years and wrote a comprehensive account of Hindu manners, customs and rituals. His work contains detailed observations about clothing, social norms and how women behaved in public settings. Step 6: The specific remark about Hindu women being able to go anywhere alone without fear of impertinent looks is consistent with the ethnographic style of Dubois. Step 7: Therefore the correct answer is Abbe J. A. Dubois.

Verification / Alternative check:
History reference works that summarise European accounts often attribute this particular observation to Abbe Dubois, noting his surprise at the modesty and restraint he perceived in public behaviour. Cross referencing these summaries with exam preparation materials confirms that Dubois, not Bernier, Tavernier or Roe, is associated with this specific comment about Hindu women safety and freedom of movement.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Francois Bernier focused more on political and economic structures rather than this kind of detailed social remark.
• Jean-Baptiste Tavernier wrote primarily as a merchant about trade and precious stones.
• Thomas Roe is known for his diplomatic mission and court chronicles, not for ethnographic observations of Hindu social life.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to guess Bernier or Tavernier because their names frequently appear in questions about European travellers. Students may not pay attention to differences between court centric narratives and village level ethnography. Another mistake is to overlook Abbe Dubois simply because he is not as often mentioned in basic textbook lists of Mughal era visitors. Careful study of which author is associated with which type of description helps avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
Abbe J. A. Dubois