India's New Capitalists: Caste, Business, and Industry In a Modern Nation

Who are the major new Indian business people? What is their social profile? Business in India was traditionally the preserve of certain ‘Bania’ communities clubbed under the Vaishya order. The term ‘Bania’, in fact, acquired a generic connotation and could refer to the village moneylender, shopkeeper, wholesaler, or large factory owner. More recently, India’s commercial ethos has changed massively with the entry of businessmen from the ranks of Brahmins, Khatris, and other castes with a predomin…