Banians

/ˈbæn.jənz/ noun

Definition

Plural of banian; multiple Hindu merchants or traders, or the merchant class in India as a collective group.

Etymology

The plural of banian, simply adding the English plural suffix -s to the singular form of the Hindi-derived word.

Kelly Says

In colonial India, 'banians' were often the intermediaries between British merchants and local populations, making them powerful figures who shaped trade networks and early globalization!

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