UPSC Prelims 2022 Q52: Medieval History – Medieval India
In medieval India, the term "Fanam" referred to:
- (a) Clothing
- (b) Coins
- (c) Ornaments
- (d) Weapons
Answer: (b) Coins
Explanation
Fanam: a small coin of south India
The fanam was a small gold (later silver) coin used across south India from the medieval period.
It circulated under the Vijayanagara, Chola and Kerala kingdoms, and later in the Madras Presidency and Travancore.
| South Indian coin | Metal | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pagoda (Varaha / Hun) | Gold | Main high-value coin of Vijayanagara |
| Fanam (Panam) | Gold, later silver | Small fraction of a pagoda |
| Kasu (Cash) | Copper | Lowest denomination |
The word survives in Tamil and Malayalam 'panam', meaning money.
Answer: (b) Coins.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Fanam was not clothing; it was a small denomination of currency.
- (b) CORRECT. The fanam was a small gold or silver coin of medieval south India.
- (c) Incorrect. Fanam was money, not an ornament, though some gold coins were worn as jewellery.
- (d) Incorrect. Fanam has no link to weapons; it was a currency unit.
Key point
Fanam = small gold/silver coin of medieval south India (Vijayanagara, Chola); 'panam' still means money in Tamil and Malayalam.
Remember
Fanam = small south Indian coin; 'panam' = money.
Common mistakes
- Guessing ornaments because many early fanams were made of gold.
- Confusing fanam with pagoda (the larger gold coin) or kasu (copper).
- Not linking the word to the living Tamil and Malayalam word 'panam' for money.
Exam tip
Learn coin names by region: tanka and jital (Delhi Sultanate), rupiya (Sher Shah), pagoda and fanam (south India).
Sources
- NCERT Class VII — Our Pasts II (New Kings and Kingdoms; Vijayanagara)
- Reserve Bank of India Monetary Museum — Medieval coinage of south India