Question
Q41. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
1. Aurang – In-charge of treasury
2. Banian – Indian agent of the East India company
3. Mirasidar -Designated revenue payer to the state
Which of the following pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Detailed Explanation
- Aurang – A Persian term for a warehouse –a place where goods are collected before being sold; also refers to a workshop. Hence pair 1 is not correctly matched.
- Banian: In the 18th and 19th centuries, European merchants opened and deepened trade routes throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. However, in these markets they faced considerable challenges due to linguistic and cultural barriers. This led to difficulties in integrating into indigenous commercial and political systems, which restricted their operations. The use of intermediaries with expertise of the local markets and languages rapidly proliferated.
- In South -East Asia, this was known as the ‘comprador’ system, whilst in the Anglo -Indian trade individuals carrying out these functions were known as ‘banians’. These intermediaries fulfilled various internal and external roles for trading companies including, managing treasury functions, securing credit, and acting as brokers in the local markets. A contemporary described the banian as an individual, “By whom the English gentlemen in general conduct all their business. He is interpreter, head book -keeper, head secretary, head broker, the supplier of cash and cash -keeper, and in general also secret -keeper. Hence pair 2 is correctly matched.
- Mirasidars: Under the ryotwari settlement system, the government recognized mirasidars as the sole proprietors of land, dismissing tenants’ rights completely. Only in villages where no mirasidar system existed were those villagers holding permanent occupancy rights recognized as landholders responsible for the payment of land revenue.
