Banjaras
Topic: Mughal Agrarian Society and Economy · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Banjaras were a community of travelling traders in medieval India. They moved in large caravans called tandas, with thousands of oxen carrying loads. They carried grain, salt and other goods over long distances. They supplied town markets and armies on the march. They linked villages, towns and military camps across the country.
Example
Sultan Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316) used Banjaras to bring grain to the markets of Delhi. Mughal armies on campaign also depended on Banjara caravans for food grain.
Related concepts
- Flow of silver into India
- Silver rupya
- Hundi
- Mahajan
- Nagarsheth
- Urbanisation in Mughal India
- Urban professional classes
- Manzil-abadi
- Sipah-abadi
- Mulk-abadi