UPSC Prelims 2016 Q38: Medieval History – Medieval Administration & Socio - Economic Institutions
Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally
- (a) agriculturists
- (b) warriors
- (c) weavers
- (d) traders
Answer: (d) traders
Explanation
Banjaras in medieval India
The Banjaras were the most important trader-nomads.
Their caravan of pack bullocks was called a tanda.
| Period | Role of the Banjaras |
|---|---|
| Alauddin Khalji | Carried grain to the city markets of Delhi |
| Jahangir | His memoirs say they carried grain on bullocks from different areas and sold it in towns |
| Mughal campaigns | Supplied food grain to the army on the march |
The options checked:
| Option | Verdict |
|---|---|
| (a) Agriculturists | Incorrect; they were nomads, not settled farmers |
| (b) Warriors | Incorrect; they only supplied the armies |
| (c) Weavers | Incorrect |
| (d) Traders | Correct |
The bank earlier stored (a) as the key; the official key is (d).
Answer: (d) traders.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Banjaras were nomads who carried grain; they were not agriculturists.
- (b) Incorrect. They supplied armies with grain but were not warriors.
- (c) Incorrect. Banjaras were not weavers; they moved goods on pack animals.
- (d) CORRECT. Banjaras during the medieval period were generally traders moving in caravans.
Key point
Banjaras: trader-nomads of medieval India; caravan called tanda; carried grain for Alauddin Khalji's markets and for Mughal armies.
Remember
Banjaras = trader-nomads with tanda caravans.
Common mistakes
- Thinking people who carried grain must have grown it.
- Confusing the nomadic Banjaras with settled peasant castes.
- Forgetting the word tanda, which NCERT uses for their caravan.
Exam tip
Banjara = caravan (tanda) = trade. Nomads on the move cannot be settled farmers.
Sources
- NCERT Class VII — Our Pasts II (Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities)
- Irfan Habib — The Agrarian System of Mughal India