Multanis

Multanis were an influential merchant diaspora from the Indian subcontinent that was widely active in Central and Western Asia between 14th and 19th centuries. They were centered in the city of Multan in modern-day Punjab, Pakistan.

The name 'Multanis' drives from the Multan region. In the medieval period, Multan or Multanistan was a subha situated between Punjab and Sindh. In the 14th century, Zia al-Din Barani described Multanis as prominent financiers and transregional agents of the Delhi Sultanate, distinct from other merchant and moneylender groups.

Historically, Multanis were divided into two major ethnoreligious groups: Multani Muslims and Multani Hindus. Most Multanis Muslims were from the Lohana and Lohani communities, while most Multani Hindus were from the Bania and Khatri castes. Thevenot noted that a Hindu caste called Ca-try or Khatri, from Multan spread across India. As a leading merchant community under Mughal patronage, many Multanis and Banias mentioned in historical sources were likely Khatris.

References

Sources

Gopal, Surendra (2016). Born to Trade: Indian Business Communities in Medieval and Early Modern Eurasia. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-351-98738-7.
Sengupta, Ms Anita; Rakhimov, Mr Mirzokhid (2015). Insights and Commentaries: South and Central Asia: South and Central Asia. KW Publishers. ISBN 978-93-85714-05-4.
Aslanian, Sebouh David (2014). From the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean: The Global Trade Networks of Armenian Merchants from New Julfa. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-28217-9.
Oonk, Gijsbert (2007). Global Indian Diasporas: Exploring Trajectories of Migration and Theory. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 978-90-5356-035-8.
Barendse, Rene (2009). Arabian Seas 1700–1763. Brill. ISBN 978-90-474-3002-5.
Markovits, Claude (2000). The Global World of Indian Merchants, 1750–1947: Traders of Sind from Bukhara to Panama. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-43127-9.
Dale, Stephen Frederic (1994). Indian Merchants and Eurasian Trade, 1600–1750. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-52597-8.

Notes

↑ Although Bania (caste) and Khatri are two distinct Indian caste groups.

[FOOTNOTEOonk,_Gijsbert200734_&_36-1] 1 2 Oonk, Gijsbert 2007, p. 34 & 36.

[FOOTNOTEOonk,_Gijsbert200740-2] 1 2 Oonk, Gijsbert 2007, p. 40.

[FOOTNOTEOonk,_Gijsbert200745-3] Oonk, Gijsbert 2007, p. 45.

[FOOTNOTEOonk,_Gijsbert200743-4] Oonk, Gijsbert 2007, p. 43.

[5] Although Bania (caste) and Khatri are two distinct Indian caste groups.