The 'Mahajans' were collectively represented by the chief of the merchant community known as __________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Nagarsheth
Option (1) Antyaja — Incorrect. Antyaja means, literally, born outside the system; these categories were often expected to provide inexpensive labour to peasants and zamindars. They were not merchants.
Option (2) Nagarsheth — Correct. In western India the merchant groups were called mahajans and their chief the sheth. In urban centres such as Ahmedabad the mahajans were collectively represented by the chief of the merchant community, called the nagarsheth.
Option (3) Samantas — Incorrect. Samantas were men who maintained themselves through local resources, including control over land, and offered homage and military support to rulers; powerful samantas could even become kings.
Option (4) Shrenis — Incorrect. Shrenis were guilds, organisations of craft producers and merchants. A shreni was a body, not the chief who represented the merchants of a city.
NCERT (2026-27): “6.2 A more complex social reality … Merchants often had strong community or kin ties, and were organised into their own caste-cum-occupational bodies. In western India these groups were called mahajans, and their chief, the sheth. In urban centres such as Ahmedabad the mahajans were collectively represented by the chief of the merchant community who was called the nagarsheth.…” |