Bania (caste)

Bania (also spelled Baniya, Banija, Banya, Vaniya, Vani, Vania and Vanya) is a Vaishya 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. Traditionally, the main occupations of the community are merchants, bankers, money-lenders, and (in modern times) owners of commercial enterprises. The name Bania derives from the Sanskrit word vanik meaning traders. 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 community is composed of several sub-castes including the Agarwal Banias, Gupta Banias, Khandelwal Banias, Maheshwari Banias, Oswal Banias, and Porwal Banias, among others. Most Banias are followers of either Hinduism or Jainism, but a few have converted to Sikhism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism. Most Hindu Gujarati Banias are Vaishnavas and are followers of either Vallabhacharya or Swaminarayan. Baniyas are vegetarians, and some groups have greater restrictions on the foods that can be consumed. They also take care not to kill insects when preparing and eating food. Baniyas were known to be hard working and frugal. Only minimum expenses would be made on clothing, food, and furniture. During the day, Baniya boys were sent to schools called patshalas where they would learn business skills and habits. They learned how to read and write, as well as in secret merchant scripts that were hidden from non-Baniyas. They also learned ciphers, accounting, and arithmetic. 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. After school hours, boys would spend time in the family shop and learn the business.