Question
Trade and Commerce operated through Caste and Kinship networks in India. Discuss.
Solution
- Pre-colonial India had well-organised manufacturing centres as well as indigenous merchant groups, trading networks, and banking systems that enabled trade to take place within India, and between India and the rest of the world.
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‘Vaisyas’ constitute one of the four varnas – an indication of the importance of the merchant and of trade or business in Indian society since ancient times.
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The ‘traditional business communities’ in India include not only ‘Vaisyas’, but also other
groups with distinctive religious or other community identities. -
Trade took place primarily within the caste and kinship networks of these communities, a
merchant in one part of the country could issue a hundi that would be honoured
by a merchant in another place.
