SOCIAL LIFE AND CULTURAL PRACTICES AMONG THE MERCHANT GROUP IN MUGHAL GUJARAT ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF Boctor of $f)tlosropf)p IN HISTORY 3Y MONIKA SHARMA UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF DR. SUMBUL HALIM KHAN CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH-202002 (INDIA) 2013 Social Life and Cultural Practices Among the Merchant Group in Mughal Gujarat Abstract The theme 'Social Life and Cultural Practices Among the Merchant Group in Mughal Gujarat' proposed to address the social dimension of otherwise commercially acknowledged region - Gujarat. The merchant group were fenced off in order to address vital problems linked to structural morphology of the mercantile community, their organisation, nature of professional network as also proximity to the administrators. The present endeavour though largely based on the classic works of Pearson, Ashin- E>aS Gupta, Makarand Mehta, Ruby Maloni et al undertakes a fresh approach on tfi^-SBygraidiEti^iisions integral to the Merchant groups such as Bohras, Parsis, Ghanchis, Memons and Europeans etc. The first chapter focuses the broadlines of the region - namely that the region of Gujarat had considerable agricultural resources to sustain and provide impetus to mercantile activities, evidence also indicates the presence of accelerate activity in commercial and manufacturing centres. This peculiarly conductive envirormient led to the region becoming a hub not only of thriving mercantile institutions and capital but also becoming a conglomerate of skilled artisans and craftsmen. As a result it was properly connected by inland and overseas trade routes and the elements which supported its commercial life. The second chapter contains the major communities, their origin, involvement in trade and commerce, and their settlement. The main communities during 16"'-17* centuries were Banias, Bohras, Chalebis, Khojas, Memons, Parsis, Ghanchis and Europeans. These communities were spread all over the Gujarat, especially in commercial and industrial centres. Third chapter outlines Hving standard of the merchants. To assess the living standards, some important aspects of merchants' life has been studied, such as Social Life and Cultural Practices Among the Merchant Group in Mughal Gujarat Abstract their housing, everyday hfe, dresses, ornaments, resorts, parties, education, women's status, language, their source of entertainments, rehgion and their food habits etc. On the basis of these aspects one can guage their social status. Fourth chapter entails the social customs mores of merchants, which includes marriages, polygamy, child marriage, intermarriages in different castes, widow remarriage, custom of sati, ceremonies related to child birth, ceremonies related to death and festivals etc. The cultural dimension reflected herein shows a gross assimilation of social and religious values in Indian heritage. Chapter five intends to focus the relations of merchants with the Mughals and their officials in the region. This exercise samples certain important merchants like Shantidas Zaveri, Mulla Abdul Ghafur and Virji Vora to buttress the thesis of close proximity of the two vital entities merchant and the Mughal court. Sixth chapter intends to assess the ways in which the merchant communities invested their capital. The main areas of their investment were shipbuilding business and their respective commercial enterprise. They also invested in luxurious mansions and gardens in the region as well as overseas, forts, troops, charity, public welfare, education and learning, religious buildings, money lending, cotton trade and shipping insurance etc. Seventh and the last chapter consist of an appraisal of different institutions of merchant communities, like guilds, mahajans, nagarsheth, brokers, sahukar and saraf. These institutions were maintained for smooth conduct of mercantile transactions. Regarding the institution of nagarsheth Tripathi and Mehta observe that "Shantidas has never been mentioned as a nagarsheth in any of Social Life and Cultural Practices Among the Merchant Group in Mughal Gujarat Abstract the contemporary documents, and this title was not prefixed with his name in Mirat-i-Ahmadi, which never refers to Khushalchand (Shantidas's son) without the title." Khushalchand had established an undisputed claim to the epithet of nagarsheth, not only for himself, but also for his descendents. This clearly indicates that none in the long line of such nagarsheths belonged to any other family. The development of this portfolio was a peculiarity of a particular family. Our study concludes that despite vigorous commercial enterprise of the various merchant communities they have to be contextualised not only in economic perspective, but also as a major social entity. The variant religious and cultural practices are equally significant dimensions which have enriched in multifarious manner the Gujarati culture and Indian heritage at large. The rich culture synthesis of communities like Parsis, Ghanchis, Bohra, Banias have lent much to the aesthetic values of the Indian subcontinent. Social Life and Cultural Practices Among the Merchant Group in Mughal Gujarat Abstract REGION WISE CONCENTRATION OF MERCHANT COMMUNITIES OF GUJARAT (16™ - 17™ c.) PARSI 0 BOHRA 0 <HOJA MEMON •0 SANIA 0 GHANCMl A u •n iC no ARABIAN SEA SOCIAL LIFE AND CULTURAL PRACTICES AMONG THE MERCHANT GROUP IN MUGHAL GUJARAT THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF Boctor of $i)tlosfopf)p IN HISTORY BY MONIKA SHARMA UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF DR. SUMBUL HALIM KHAN CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH-202002 (INDIA) 2013 2 7 OCT 2014 T8690 CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY Department of History Aligarh Muslim University AUgarh-202 002 Dr. Sumbul Halim Khan Associate Professor Date: Cefttpcdte T^is is to certify that the thesis 'Sociaf Ltfe and CuHuraC Practices Jimong tfU Merchant group in Mt^haCQujafat' 6y !Hs. fMon^ Sharma is the originaC wor^ of the candidate and is suitaSte for suSmission to the examiners for the award of the (Ph.<D. degree. <Dr. SumSudHaCim %han Telephones. (0571) 2703146; Fax No. (0571) 2703146; Internal; 1480 and 1482 *< *4 •*•• * '.4*.4*-4*4*.4*.4*.4*.4*-4*-4*4*-4*-4*4*-4*-4*-4*.4*.4*.4*.4*-4''-4*-4*.4*.4*.4*.4*-4*-4*-4*.4'*.4'* <• .;<• .;<• «• <- .;- <• •<• .;* •<• ^- .;<• -<• •*• <• •<• .4" -t- .;- <• .4* •*• ;« .4* <- <• .4< ;-" .4* <• •<:• 4* <• •«• .4< 4* -«• <• .;<• •«• (Dedkatedto iHy (Parents ]T * <• <• .i< <• •<• *4 «• .;* <• <• <• <• .4* Smt La^fimi Sftarma -f^ <• »^ •«• .;" ^ a Ibfen of gratitude \ ^ •<• •*• .4* <• .4^ <• 4< <• 4* ^- .4* <• .4* <• <• .;^ .4< <• <• .4* .4< <• <• 4* 4< <• <• .4* .4< •<• .4< •i- .4< .4* •*• .4* -«• .4< .4*•*• •«• •*• .;- .4* <• <• .4< •«• ;- •*• <• .4* <• .4* <• .4* .4< •«• •«• .4* *< '* *J *4 *4 *A '^ '* '* '< •*< *< *< *« *< *< *< *4 *< *4 •*< *< *•• *< ** *4 •* »^'.v'V JLc^owfecfgement Al^f praise to Qodthe creator, the cherisfier and the smtainer of the worCdwho endowed me with the requisite knowkdge andaSifity to accompfish this wor^ I wiff Se gratified to record than^ to those who hefpedme in the pknitude of this thesis. It gives me immense pkasure to ey^ress my deep sense of gratitude to my Supervisor (Dr. Sum6uC !K(lRm %fian with whose guidance and constant encouragement I produced this piece ofwor^ with success. Oder moraf support and masterfy guidance was a constant inspiration for me throughout my research worh^ She provided thorough criticism, rigorous scrutiny and vafuaSCe suggestions at aff times. The affectionate treatment and the consistent encouragement that I received from her, is cherishaSCe. I wish to express my sincere thanks to <Prof. Tariqjilmadthe Chairman Centre ofjidvanced Study (Department ofjfistory, JIMI), Migarh, who afways had a supportive attitude during my research wor^ He too^e^tra care to safeguard my interest and I shafC remain SehoCden to him for this gesture. I shaff aCways remain greatCy indebted to my teachers particuCarCy (Prof. ^G, ^t/iar who was aCways avaiCaSCe in moments of crisis. 'Words faiC to express my gratitude to Zaman Sir, for heCping me in many ways. He was aCways avaiCahk for aft favours that we students demanded from him. I tah^ this opportunity to ac^owkdge the huge debt I owe to my mentor andeCder brother Mr. AnitSin^fi Chaudharyfor introducing me to history andhefping me in affpossiSCe ways to seehjiew ventures. I cannot possiSCy than^him andhisfamiCy enough for a[[ they do for me. I owe gratitude to (Dr. (RflsUmi Vpadhyay, Mr. ^inodStn^H, Dr. 0.<P. Sdrivastav, and Dr. Anisa SaSir. Their vafuahfe suggestions, affectionate support, advice and guidelines proved indispensahfe for me. I am also indebted to (Dr. JeeCmi Sir for afways being cooperative and hefpfuCin deciphering (Persian text. I shaff be faifing my duty if I forget to acknowkdge <Prof. Tarhat Jdasan for having suggested such an interesting and exciting theme for this research worh^ I also acknowkdge my academic association with Dr. JawaidA^tar. I tah^ this opportunity to than^ (Prof. S-^P. I^erma and (Dr. (Pushpa (Prasad for their cooperation and many valuable suggestions. / am ever gratefuC to (Prof. Ma^ramdMeUta and<Prof. SHirin MeHtafor tdeir consistent encouragement, materiaC and e:!q)ert advice to ensure tHe accompCisHment of this research wor^ I am immenseCy gratefuCto Library Staff of ^fiulaBfiai Jaisin^HSHai Institute of^searcH and Learning, AfvnadaSad for aCways Being cooperative and heCpfuC. It wouCd have Seen impossibk for me underta^ this research