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SOME ASPECTS OF TRADE IN JAINA LITERATURE
merchant who invests his capital in purchasing sacs of Manjistha imported from abroad.
Trade Management
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Village committees were formed by the persons from different professions with the help of village heads for the smooth running of trading. These village committees were consulted over for ordinary decisions11. The cooperation of Bhats and Banjaras in trade lessened the possibility of their indulgence in theft and robbery. Probably village committees ordered them to help in trade. In Chauhan dominion we had record of an officer who was incharge of trade relating works. In 1152 A.D. Mahadev was officer incharge of trade at Kiradu.42 In 1017 A.D. traders of Shergarh constituted the town committee which was in charge of collection of the market taxes of custom house which were usually collected in kind. Varang was the officer connected with the collection of tolls on roads.43 In every town, there was the custom-house for the collection of taxes on the goods coming and going out for sale.44 The Kuvalayamala mentions a Desi-Vanik-Melle (association of merchants). Traders coming from outside had to report their sales and purchase to it.45 Meaning of the word desi had remained controversail. Bulhar translated the word desi as literary guide. It was Uddyotanasuri who first of all used the word desi for guild of dealer," Epigraphia Indica has also interpreted the word desi as 'guild of dealers' and this seems to be the most appropriate meaning of the word.
Harsh inscription (973 A.D.)49 and Nadlai inscription (1145 A.D.) also used the word desi for association of merchants.
This association had its own fixed rules and
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