205 Lokhandwala, M. (1970) an Arabic History of Gujarat By
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
205 Lokhandwala, M. (1970) An ArabicHistory of Gujarat by ad-Dabir, Oriental Institute, Baroda. Misra, S. C. (1958) Muslim Communitiesin Gujarat, Asia Publishing House, Bombay. Sarkar, J. (1948) The History of Bengal, University of Dacca, Dacca. Schoff, Wilfred (1912) The Periplus of the ErythraeanSea, Longmans, Green, London. Summers, Augustus (1851) "An Account of the Agate and Cornelian Trade of Cambay," Journal of the BombayBranch of the RoyalAsiatic Society3. Trivedi, R. K., ed. (1964) AgateIndustry of Cambay,Census of India 1961: V, Part VII A (2), Delhi. Trivedi, R. K., ed. (1969) Siddi, A NegroidTribe of Gujarat, Census of India, 1961: V, Part IV B (1), Delhi. Wolseley, H., ed. (1928) The CambridgeHistory of India, Vol.III, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. A BRIEF NOTE ON BUSINESS ORGANISATION OF INDIAN MERCHANTS IN RUSSIA IN THE 17TH CENTURY European traders began arriving in India after Vasco da Gama opened the sea- route from Europe to the East in 1498. The Indian merchants partly returned the compliment by entering into Tsarist Russia in the seventeenth century. In 1638 two Indian traders arrived in the city of Kazan in the company of Persians'). Henceforth, throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries they regularly visited the Tsarist territories; their vital role in Russian eastern trade was recog- nized by the Tsarist administration, which sought their services at various times for the extending Russia's eastern trade2). In many ways the entry of Indians in Rus- sian commerce was unique; Russia was virtually unknown to Indian political authorities; no previous commercial, cultural and diplomatic ties existed between the two and both of them were separated by several sovereign states3). In spite of these constraints the Indian traders not only managed to enter Russia but they also carried on their profession, braving several ups and downs in their fortunes. Among Indian merchants were both Hindus and Muslims; the names recorded in contemporary official documents testify to this4). We come across names of Muslims: Yunus Mulyuk Dutyandais), Hamid6), Bala Jan 7) , Haji Mulla8) etc. Following are the names of Hindu merchants found in the documents: Solaknath9), Chanda'°) and his brother Bishaya, Lekui and his nephew Kishnall), Banda Kapur Chand 12) , Narain GuptaI3), Lahori Baniya 14) , BirbaP5), Divirmal 16) , GiriI7), Ram Chand'8), Mitra'9), Nanda2°), Durga Lala"), Mal Chand22), Gordan23), Ganga Ram24), Raja Ram25), Jan Ram26), Bhagat27), Anbu Ram28), etc. Many of these traders, both Hindus and Muslims had accepted the citizenship of either Persia or Russia 29). Those who had taken up Russian citizenship settled down in Astrakhan on the northern shores of the Caspian Sea3°). This significant fact considerably in- fluenced their mode of commerce and allied activities. The voluntary acceptance of an alien citizenship reflected a grim necessity; to secure governmental protection not only for the security of life and property but also for carrying on their business activities. In contrast to the above situation, no foreign trader on Indian soil during the same period was faced with a similar problem. Usually it was the merchant from abroad, who enjoyed special privileges against his local competitor3'). The dif- 206 ficulties of Indian traders had multiplied in absence of a direct link with their homeland. The need for governmental protection was reflected in the fact that many times the Indian merchants journeyed along with the representatives of either the Russian Tsar or the Persian Shah or the Sultan of Shemdkhd. In fact, the first record of the arrival of Indians on Russian territory notes that they had come along with the representatives of the Shah of Iran32). In 1641, the Indian merchants in their peti- tion to the Tsar stated that they had been brought by the Persian envoy Asan Bek33). Sutur was sent by the Tsar to Persia and during his stay there, he was extended all protection by the Russian envoy against oppression by the Persian authorities34). The envoy of the Sultan of Shemdkhd brought with him Indian traders to MOSCOW35). Furthermore, the Indians were forced to employ interpreters in the early stages because of their total unfamiliarity with the Russian language 36). These people proved to be another source of oppression to the Indians. On their complaint, the Russian authorities exiled Daulat Ali, an interpreter, from Astrakhan to Kazan so that they might feel secure37). However, as they became acquainted with Russian language and local conditions, their dependence on interpreters considerably decreased. The resort to kinship ties appears to be the only workable mechanism available to Indians for carrying on their commercial activities. Under the influence of the caste system, virtually all the members of the family (even the extended-family) of a mer- chant followed the profession of trade. Even amongst the Muslims, business ac- tivities were confined to certain groups. As a result, kinsmen and caste-men belong- ing to identical profession were in a position to render expert assistance in trading activities, either as partners or in certain cases as hired agents. Such an arrange- ment ensured quick selection in case of need either for a business partner or help because the credentials of the person concerned such as his trustworthiness, skill etc. were either directly or indirectly known. Hence kinsmen became the support group for the individual merchant. The method of trade pursued by Indian merchants testifies to their dependence upon the kinship group. This is illustrated by the career of Sutur, who appears to have been the most important Indian merchant in Russia in the seventeenth century38). In one of his submissions to the Russian authorities Sutur claimed that while visiting his homeland India, he had `sung praises of the generosity of the Russian ruler' as a result of which twenty-five Indian merchants accompanied him on his return to Russia39). It might be presumed these Indians if not kinsmen of Sutur must have at least belonged to his caste. In Russia, Sutur was assisted by his son- in-law4°). Lyaluchki Bagarob sent his brother Lalyu Bagimov from Astrakhan to Terk with goods for purposes of business4l). Another trader Banda Mingalov was stationed in Moscow while his brother Bundankov Mindra stayed in Astrakhan42). Their cousin Lahori Baniya traded in Moscow43). We have several other instances of kinsmen grouping together to conduct their business. In 1650, 1. G. Kvashmin the Voivode of Astrakhan reported that five Indian traders, residents of Astrakhan, had arrived with goods. Among them were Sotri Kedikov and his son-in-law Sokon. They had travelled from Astrakhan to Saratov, .