Caste Bania

Bania (also spelled Baniya, Banija, Banya, Vaniya, Vani, Vania and Vanya) is a mercantile caste mainly from the Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan, with strong diasporic communities in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra (mainly Mumbai) and other northern states.

Traditionally, the main occupations of the community are merchants, bankers, money-lenders, and (in modern times) owners of commercial enterprises.

Etymology

The Hindi term baniyā is derived from Sanskrit vaṇija ("trader"), whereas the Marwari bā̃ṇyõ and Gujarati vāṇiyo are derived from Sanskrit vāṇija ("trader").

In Bengal the term Bania is a functional catch-all for moneylenders, indigenously developed bankers, readers of grocery items and spices, irrespective of caste.

Society

Caste Bania 
16th century Portuguese painting of a Baneane merchant from Cambay.

The community is composed of several sub-castes including the Agarwal, Khadayat, Khandelwal, Maheshwari, Modh, Oswal, Shrimal and Porwad Baniyas, among others. Most Banias are followers of either Hinduism or Jainism, but a few have converted to Sikhism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism. Most Hindu Gujarati Banias are Vaishnavas and are followers of Vallabhacharya.

Caste Bania 
Bania men of Surat, Gogo, and Ahmedabad, Gujarat, British India.
Caste Bania 
Bania women in British India. Image taken before 1860.

Baniyas are vegetarians, and some groups have greater restrictions on the foods that can be consumed. They also take care not to kill insects when preparing and eating food.

Baniyas were known to be hard working and frugal. Only minimum expenses would be made on clothing, food, and furniture.

During the day, Baniya boys were sent to schools called patshalas where they would learn business skills and habits. They learned how to read and write, as well as in secret merchant scripts that were hidden from non-Baniyas. They also learned ciphers, accounting, and arithmetic. The correctness of mathematical calculations was extremely important to Baniyas, and they learnt various methods and tricks so they could perform advanced mental arithmetic. A mercantile ethos was also instilled in the boys, as they learned the chief aim of life was to acquire wealth and only profitable transactions were worthwhile. After school hours, boys would spend time in the family shop and learn the business. After education was complete boys would try to start their own businesses and if successful, would be allowed to manage the family business.

When Baniyas made transactions, they often had dubious qualities that allowed the accumulation of many small profits. These include short-weighing, adulteration of products, and regular undervaluation of a debt repayments. They were also known for being well spoken when speaking to others, but were not confrontatious. They were very secretive about their business accounts, and would use secret scripts or illegible handwriting. Often two sets of account books were kept, one for showing officials if needed, and one only for family. Business dealings were kept within the family, and in cases of dispute other Baniyas would arbitrate in order to keep business deals secret from non-Baniyas. Their preference for compromises instead of confrontations often led non-Baniyas to think of them as cowardly.

In order to prepare for further business success, Baniyas also had to have high levels of information access. They had messengers, intelligence networks, and postal services in order to make sure that they knew about any important knowledge as early as possible. Such information was often used in speculation in futures exchanges, which in turn sometimes turned into gambling.

Caste Bania 
Baniyas of Delhi

Honour was very important to Baniyas, which they called abru. Their honour was tied to their credit worthiness, which were valued higher than their lives. A bankrupt Baniya was stigmatised, and those who were caught to be dishonest with another Baniya were boycotted, bankrupted, and stigmatised. Honour was also tied to socioreligious conduct, as maintaining marital relations within the community, having a strong patriarch, and adherence to religious principles were all highly valued.

Wealthy Baniyas only spent large sums of money for specific purposes: hosting feasts, buying jewellery (mainly for women), construction of havelis, and the most honourable being donating to religious causes such as temples or religious festivals. Such displays of wealth allowed Baniyas to show their status and high honour.

Baniyas were very religious, with the Jain and Vaishnavs beliefs, rituals, prayers, and ceremonies being often very similar. Pushtimarg Vaishnavs would perform emotional seva to Krishna, and Jains would be austere and follow the Jain vows. Lakshmi Puja was performed by Baniyas, as it Lakshmi would be considered to bestow wealth and welfare on the family.

According to the Hindu Vedic varna system, they belong to the Vaishya varna.

Notable people

See also

References

Further reading

  • Cheesman, David (1982). "'The Omnipresent Bania:' Rural Moneylenders in Nineteenth-Century Sind". Modern Asian Studies. 16 (3): 445–462. doi:10.1017/S0026749X00015262. JSTOR 312116. S2CID 145722413.
  • Metcalf, Thomas R. (December 1962). "The British and the Moneylender in Nineteenth-Century India". The Journal of Modern History. 34 (4): 390–397. doi:10.1086/239182. JSTOR 1880056. S2CID 145246030.

Tags:

Caste Bania EtymologyCaste Bania SocietyCaste Bania Notable peopleCaste Bania Further readingCaste Bania

🔥 Trending searches on Wiki English:

SingaporeBrazilBradley CooperMatthew PerryDerek DraperAlexa NikolasHTTP 404Three-BodyThe Beekeeper (2024 film)2019 Indian general electionBangladeshJovan AdepoSocial mediaAlia BhattJan VertonghenCanadaNatalie PortmanElle FanningDrake BellApple Inc.Quincy (actor)Nero Redivivus legendJack KevorkianJoely RichardsonWorld War ITasman Bridge disasterTurkeyThe Acolyte (TV series)Soaking (sexual practice)LinkedInBrothers (2009 film)Dakota JohnsonCrocus City Hall attackDani AlvesDan SchneiderKate GarrawayA Serbian FilmXNXXFIFA World CupDeclan RiceLeonardo DiCaprioSolar eclipseLisa LillienList of dates for EasterAshley ColeWikiDune (novel)Port of BaltimoreDonte DiVincenzoShyneMatthew GarberJapan Air Lines Flight 123Jim CarreyAadhaarTajikistanGeneration XFirst Daughter (2004 film)AaliyahJake BongioviLindsay LohanClint EastwoodVinayak Damodar SavarkarInterstate 695 (Maryland)2024Georgia national football teamX-Men '97Nutty Putty CaveJeffrey JonesNetherlandsKylian MbappéHoliChesapeake Bay BridgePassenger (TV series)NCIS (season 21)Priss Fotheringham2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)Black swan theory🡆 More