Current state of baniya community in india
Baniya community , the traditional business community of india is going through a major changes from the traditional stereo typed image .
Baniya's had been the traditionally associated with business in the country . They are traditionally looked with snide looks because they are considered to be miser , money minded , timid and one who is used mainly for money matter . Thing have been changing and more and more baniya's embraced newer avenue and professions . They can take any risk for business gains but will generally not get into a fist fight infact they usually avoid any aggression because thats how they are wired. 'Baniya' as a word is being used as an adjective in the society for anybody who is tight fisted in money matter or calculative in his business dealing . This adjective is used in a negative tone. It hurts when one has to go through this stereotyping specially when you are yourself a 'Baniya' ;-).
Some myths and facts about baniya's
Baniya or Vaish was the caste in hindu system which was assigned to people who were business men and and were third in the hierarchy after Brahmin and Kshatriya and above Shudra. Valour and knowledge were traditionally not expected from them . This become specifically relevant when valour and knowledge were celebrated properties of human being by the society at large and money was considered a source of vices. Even the traditional eating habits of 'Baniyas' were typical vegetarian and that too without onion and garlic . They have been usually not associated with any revolutionary movements by being in forefront but were the one who provided the money power ,be it bhama shah to Rana Pratap or Birla and Bajaj to independence movement of the country.They will do anything to enhance their business and avoid anything which will affect it . 'Baniya' being traditionally involved with money matter thus enjoy a very typical status in the society , you love him when you need him and hate him for his power but you cannot avoid him '. They also never got into into direct power game i.e. Ruling the state and thats the reason there were hardly any 'Baniya' ruler . They traditionally liked to be under the radar . Like all Kshatriya are not warriors and brave so does not all baniya's are moneyed but thats how the society stereotypes .
But having said that things are changing .
Baniya's have entered into all realms in modern era except probably in armed forces where there representation is quite less but rest all other professions they have more than their share , be it Business , Engineering, medicine , education ,media etc . Now they are even exerting directly in politics because the current rulers donot need to fight battles and the politics is becoming more a component of economics . Even the new age baniya's are breaking the traditional mould and have changed the behaviour pattern drastically be it Eating Non-Veg or drinking alcohol to exerting themself in the political system of the country .
I can inundate you with number of statistics to prove my point but one can look around and observe yourself the changes . One can see a lot of agrawal's and gupta's hitting the gym and flexing their muscle in the day and clubbing in the night which was considered a lifestyle of Kshatriya's. They have become the new age kings because as they say the 'Cash is the King' . This community which was traditionally being stereo typed as quite docile and conservative has come out of the closet and exerting themself but they have yet to show their prowess in arts and sports , the only reason I could gather is that it is considered a pretty risky as a profession and will take some time to get that Gene developed in this community.
Baniya's had been the traditionally associated with business in the country . They are traditionally looked with snide looks because they are considered to be miser , money minded , timid and one who is used mainly for money matter . Thing have been changing and more and more baniya's embraced newer avenue and professions . They can take any risk for business gains but will generally not get into a fist fight infact they usually avoid any aggression because thats how they are wired. 'Baniya' as a word is being used as an adjective in the society for anybody who is tight fisted in money matter or calculative in his business dealing . This adjective is used in a negative tone. It hurts when one has to go through this stereotyping specially when you are yourself a 'Baniya' ;-).
Some myths and facts about baniya's
Baniya or Vaish was the caste in hindu system which was assigned to people who were business men and and were third in the hierarchy after Brahmin and Kshatriya and above Shudra. Valour and knowledge were traditionally not expected from them . This become specifically relevant when valour and knowledge were celebrated properties of human being by the society at large and money was considered a source of vices. Even the traditional eating habits of 'Baniyas' were typical vegetarian and that too without onion and garlic . They have been usually not associated with any revolutionary movements by being in forefront but were the one who provided the money power ,be it bhama shah to Rana Pratap or Birla and Bajaj to independence movement of the country.They will do anything to enhance their business and avoid anything which will affect it . 'Baniya' being traditionally involved with money matter thus enjoy a very typical status in the society , you love him when you need him and hate him for his power but you cannot avoid him '. They also never got into into direct power game i.e. Ruling the state and thats the reason there were hardly any 'Baniya' ruler . They traditionally liked to be under the radar . Like all Kshatriya are not warriors and brave so does not all baniya's are moneyed but thats how the society stereotypes .
But having said that things are changing .
Baniya's have entered into all realms in modern era except probably in armed forces where there representation is quite less but rest all other professions they have more than their share , be it Business , Engineering, medicine , education ,media etc . Now they are even exerting directly in politics because the current rulers donot need to fight battles and the politics is becoming more a component of economics . Even the new age baniya's are breaking the traditional mould and have changed the behaviour pattern drastically be it Eating Non-Veg or drinking alcohol to exerting themself in the political system of the country .
I can inundate you with number of statistics to prove my point but one can look around and observe yourself the changes . One can see a lot of agrawal's and gupta's hitting the gym and flexing their muscle in the day and clubbing in the night which was considered a lifestyle of Kshatriya's. They have become the new age kings because as they say the 'Cash is the King' . This community which was traditionally being stereo typed as quite docile and conservative has come out of the closet and exerting themself but they have yet to show their prowess in arts and sports , the only reason I could gather is that it is considered a pretty risky as a profession and will take some time to get that Gene developed in this community.
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