Banian - Indian agent of the East India Company

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

  1. Aurang - In charge of Treasury of the state
  2. Banian - Indian agent of the East India Company
  3. Mirasidar - Designated revenue payer to the state

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Explanation

Aurang was a Persian term for a warehouse - a place where goods are collected before being sold; also refers to a workshop. Thus, pair (1) is not correct.

Banians were agents of the company. A Banyan is a person 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. Thus, pair (2) is correct.

Mirasdar in Urdu means hereditary landowner, co-proprietor. In Persian, miras̀± is inheritance, estate. He was also a revenue payer to the state. Thus, pair (3) is correct.

  • Exam Year: 2020