Bania (caste)

Bania (also spelled Baniya, Banija, Banya, Vaniya, Vani, Vania and Vanya)[1] 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.[8] In Bengal the term Bania is a functional catch-all for moneylenders, indigenously developed bankers, readers of grocery items and spices, irrespective of caste.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.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.[19] According to Basu, the culture of Gujarati Baniyas is viewed ambivalently by outsiders, stating "on the one hand, it is associated negatively with usury and commercial calculation, and on the other, it carries positive connotations of Jaina and Vaiṣṇava religious traditions that place special emphasis upon values of vegetarianism, nonviolence ( ahiṃsā ), and purity".
16th century Portuguese painting of a Baneane merchant man and woman from Cambay.
Bania men of Surat, Gogo, and Ahmedabad, Gujarat, British India .
Bania women in British India . Image taken before 1860.
Baniyas of Delhi
Bania (Newar caste)IndianGujaratRajasthanUttar PradeshMadhya PradeshWest BengalMaharashtraMumbaimerchantsbankersmoney-lenderscommercial enterprisesBengalAgarwalKhandelwalMaheshwariPorwadShrimaliHinduismJainismSikhismChristianityBuddhismVaishnavasVallabhacharyaBritish Indiaciphersaccountingarithmeticspeculationfutures exchangeshavelisPushtimargKrishnaLakshmi PujaVaishyaThakkar PheruAlauddin KhaljiShantidas JhaveriKhushalchand JhaveriLalbhai DalpatbhaiJagat Seth familyGirdharGandhi familyKaramchand GandhiMahatma GandhiKasturba GandhiPremchand RoychandBombay Stock ExchangeKarsandas MuljiMangaldas NathubhaiHargovinddas KantawalaBirla familyLala Lajpat RaiKrishnalal JhaveriSeth HukumchandWalchand HirachandWalchand groupMaithili Sharan GuptSarabhai familyAnasuya SarabhaiAmbalal SarabhaiVikram SarabhaiRam Manohar LohiaDalmiaSahu Jain familiesDhirubhai AmbaniAmit ShahArvind KejriwalChief Minister of DelhiBrij Behari PrasadLalu Prasad YadavRameshwar Das BirlaSAGE PublicationsMetcalf, Thomas R.