In any economy, whether it is a macro economy or micro economy, one can notice the existence of d... more In any economy, whether it is a macro economy or micro economy, one can notice the existence of different economic activities like agriculture, cattle rearing, craft production and trade. These economic activities are found in the case of the district of South Kanara of Karnataka. However, in this region, agricultural production obtained greater importance due to the existence of fertility of soil and the necessary conditions suitable for the surplus production. One of the conditions which facilitated agriculture was the existence of trade and the location of ports having connections with global trade. When compared with aaricultural production, craft production in South Kanara was meagre which catered to the domestic need of the society. Many artisans migrated to South Kanara from Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and North India. The native agriculturists flourished by investing in trade. However there existed craft production which met the day-to-day needs of the people.
Along with the emergence of Ayyavole Five Hundred in Karnataka and other parts of South India, th... more Along with the emergence of Ayyavole Five Hundred in Karnataka and other parts of South India, there was also the appearance of the cult of Gavareshvara. It represented the importance of the Gavares, a dominant trading community of Ayyavole Five Hundred. The Gavareshvara temples attracted donations from the Gavares, Mummuridandas, Settis and Settiguttas apart from officials. The article shows that the assortment of traders exhibited their devotion to god Gavareshvara, thereby demonstrating their respect for the dominant Ayyavole traders, the Gavares. Consequently, Gavareshvara became a major deity of the Ayyavole Five Hundred in Karnataka.
Scholars, who studied the nature of the Goa Kadamba polity, did not comprehend the fact that the ... more Scholars, who studied the nature of the Goa Kadamba polity, did not comprehend the fact that the Goa Kadambas exhibited the features of not only coastal polity but also maritime polity. At the same time, we accept the contention that the Shilaharas represented coastal polity while it lacked the features of a maritime polity. We support our argument by using the inscriptional data and foreign travelogue accounts, which exhibit the attempt of the Goa Kadambas to protect their maritime trade interest through their alliance with the Arab traders and maintaining a navy.
The village communities of Goa, like their counterparts in Karnataka, performed an important func... more The village communities of Goa, like their counterparts in Karnataka, performed an important function. They provided the spiritual and material bases for the process of state formation. The kings selected the Brahmanas as the spiritual and secular beneficiaries and gave land grants to them. On the one hand, they went a long a way in legitimising the position of the king and creating a material basis essential for state formation, a continuous process that involved not only political but also socio-economic processes. Land grants to the Brahmanas ensured social stability and order as the Brahmanas could provide the spiritual strength to the king and encourage the Sudra peasants to respect the state orders. On the other hand, they ensured agricultural production and maintenance of the irrigational projects. Interestingly, the Portuguese continued the policy of the Hindu kings by establishing a close relationship with the Brahmanas, at least in the initial years of their rule. This art...
In the medieval inscriptions of South Western India, there are numerous references to land grants... more In the medieval inscriptions of South Western India, there are numerous references to land grants and money grants bestowed to the temples of the region. These grants were made by kings, traders, trade guilds, artisans and other social groups. The purpose of this paper is to inquire into the sequence of these grants and to inquire into raison d'être of these grants and the people concerned. It is argued that grants were made due to justifiable devotion and to attain legitimacy and religious sanction. An endeavor is made here to interpret the land grants and monetary grants made to the temples in South Western India.
By using the concepts such as power, discourse, and «reverse» (counter) discourse, this paper con... more By using the concepts such as power, discourse, and «reverse» (counter) discourse, this paper contextualises colonial discourse and nationalist counterdiscourse through a critique of the concepts – Goa Dourada and Goa Indica. A comparison of the Goan colonial scenario with Africa demonstrates similarities between the two regions. Further, the Goan scene is juxtaposed with other parts of India. It enables us to rationalize the affinity of the nationalist of Goa with Indian nationalism. The complex processes, individuals, groups involved in the making of the counterdiscourse are delineated. The final part of the article analyses the emergence of discourse that countered the counterdiscourse, thus showing that a discourse is bound to be challenged by a counterdiscourse.
Coastal Karnataka, in the early medieval period, was known for the role of indigenous traders apa... more Coastal Karnataka, in the early medieval period, was known for the role of indigenous traders apart from the Arab traders. The pre-European or non-European trade can be divided into pre-Vijayanagara and post-Vijayanagara periods. In the pre-Vijayanagara period, the region experienced the role of the traders and trade guilds. The Arab and Jewish traders are mentioned in the context of this region. Inter-regional and International trade network emerged. In the post Vijayanagara period, there was emergence of interaction with the Europeans such as the Portuguese, Dutch, and the English. There was continuity and change between pre-European and European trade. Indian traders continued to play important role in the pre-colonial period.
This paper makes a specific attempt of locating Kanara in the Indo-Jewish historiography. It find... more This paper makes a specific attempt of locating Kanara in the Indo-Jewish historiography. It finds the need to distinguish between Kanara and Malabar as two distinct entities of south western India to achieve clarity while interpreting the nature of the cultural milieu, which the Jews encountered when they visited this multicultural complex in the twelfth-century. While accepting the role of Malabar in Jewish trade, this paper analyzes the role of Kanara in this enterprise. It will use the indigenous sources of Kanara apart from the Geniza records to prove this argument.
In any economy, whether it is a macro economy or micro economy, one can notice the existence of d... more In any economy, whether it is a macro economy or micro economy, one can notice the existence of different economic activities like agriculture, cattle rearing, craft production and trade. These economic activities are found in the case of the district of South Kanara of Karnataka. However, in this region, agricultural production obtained greater importance due to the existence of fertility of soil and the necessary conditions suitable for the surplus production. One of the conditions which facilitated agriculture was the existence of trade and the location of ports having connections with global trade. When compared with aaricultural production, craft production in South Kanara was meagre which catered to the domestic need of the society. Many artisans migrated to South Kanara from Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and North India. The native agriculturists flourished by investing in trade. However there existed craft production which met the day-to-day needs of the people.
Along with the emergence of Ayyavole Five Hundred in Karnataka and other parts of South India, th... more Along with the emergence of Ayyavole Five Hundred in Karnataka and other parts of South India, there was also the appearance of the cult of Gavareshvara. It represented the importance of the Gavares, a dominant trading community of Ayyavole Five Hundred. The Gavareshvara temples attracted donations from the Gavares, Mummuridandas, Settis and Settiguttas apart from officials. The article shows that the assortment of traders exhibited their devotion to god Gavareshvara, thereby demonstrating their respect for the dominant Ayyavole traders, the Gavares. Consequently, Gavareshvara became a major deity of the Ayyavole Five Hundred in Karnataka.
Scholars, who studied the nature of the Goa Kadamba polity, did not comprehend the fact that the ... more Scholars, who studied the nature of the Goa Kadamba polity, did not comprehend the fact that the Goa Kadambas exhibited the features of not only coastal polity but also maritime polity. At the same time, we accept the contention that the Shilaharas represented coastal polity while it lacked the features of a maritime polity. We support our argument by using the inscriptional data and foreign travelogue accounts, which exhibit the attempt of the Goa Kadambas to protect their maritime trade interest through their alliance with the Arab traders and maintaining a navy.
The village communities of Goa, like their counterparts in Karnataka, performed an important func... more The village communities of Goa, like their counterparts in Karnataka, performed an important function. They provided the spiritual and material bases for the process of state formation. The kings selected the Brahmanas as the spiritual and secular beneficiaries and gave land grants to them. On the one hand, they went a long a way in legitimising the position of the king and creating a material basis essential for state formation, a continuous process that involved not only political but also socio-economic processes. Land grants to the Brahmanas ensured social stability and order as the Brahmanas could provide the spiritual strength to the king and encourage the Sudra peasants to respect the state orders. On the other hand, they ensured agricultural production and maintenance of the irrigational projects. Interestingly, the Portuguese continued the policy of the Hindu kings by establishing a close relationship with the Brahmanas, at least in the initial years of their rule. This art...
In the medieval inscriptions of South Western India, there are numerous references to land grants... more In the medieval inscriptions of South Western India, there are numerous references to land grants and money grants bestowed to the temples of the region. These grants were made by kings, traders, trade guilds, artisans and other social groups. The purpose of this paper is to inquire into the sequence of these grants and to inquire into raison d'être of these grants and the people concerned. It is argued that grants were made due to justifiable devotion and to attain legitimacy and religious sanction. An endeavor is made here to interpret the land grants and monetary grants made to the temples in South Western India.
By using the concepts such as power, discourse, and «reverse» (counter) discourse, this paper con... more By using the concepts such as power, discourse, and «reverse» (counter) discourse, this paper contextualises colonial discourse and nationalist counterdiscourse through a critique of the concepts – Goa Dourada and Goa Indica. A comparison of the Goan colonial scenario with Africa demonstrates similarities between the two regions. Further, the Goan scene is juxtaposed with other parts of India. It enables us to rationalize the affinity of the nationalist of Goa with Indian nationalism. The complex processes, individuals, groups involved in the making of the counterdiscourse are delineated. The final part of the article analyses the emergence of discourse that countered the counterdiscourse, thus showing that a discourse is bound to be challenged by a counterdiscourse.
Coastal Karnataka, in the early medieval period, was known for the role of indigenous traders apa... more Coastal Karnataka, in the early medieval period, was known for the role of indigenous traders apart from the Arab traders. The pre-European or non-European trade can be divided into pre-Vijayanagara and post-Vijayanagara periods. In the pre-Vijayanagara period, the region experienced the role of the traders and trade guilds. The Arab and Jewish traders are mentioned in the context of this region. Inter-regional and International trade network emerged. In the post Vijayanagara period, there was emergence of interaction with the Europeans such as the Portuguese, Dutch, and the English. There was continuity and change between pre-European and European trade. Indian traders continued to play important role in the pre-colonial period.
This paper makes a specific attempt of locating Kanara in the Indo-Jewish historiography. It find... more This paper makes a specific attempt of locating Kanara in the Indo-Jewish historiography. It finds the need to distinguish between Kanara and Malabar as two distinct entities of south western India to achieve clarity while interpreting the nature of the cultural milieu, which the Jews encountered when they visited this multicultural complex in the twelfth-century. While accepting the role of Malabar in Jewish trade, this paper analyzes the role of Kanara in this enterprise. It will use the indigenous sources of Kanara apart from the Geniza records to prove this argument.
This essay is an attempt to analyze and compare the history and culture of Goans with that of Ang... more This essay is an attempt to analyze and compare the history and culture of Goans with that of Anglo-Indians. Both cultures are the product of interaction with European colonial authorities. However, while they share some similarities, there are also many differences between the two cultures.
Even though state-making and nation-making are the subjects worthy of discussion, the processes t... more Even though state-making and nation-making are the subjects worthy of discussion, the processes that go into making of the region also deserves considerable scholarly attention. Through a study of these processes, it is possible to analyse the process of state and social formations. Each region has its own unique features, which differentiates from other regions, even though one does not deny the close relationship between the regions that make the nation. Tulunadu is a region of south western India, which lies between northern part of coastal Karnataka and Kerala, also termed Malabar in the historiography. Over a period, Tulunadu has experienced a considerable metamorphosis. Modern historiography considers Tulunadu as comprising the two districts of the erstwhile South Kanara. Pre-modern historiography and sources however consider Tulunadu as a larger region comprising the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts and the northern part of Kanara up to Bhatkal, perhaps even going up to Mirjan. A study of the extent of Tulunadu and the origin of this term should clear various aspects concerning the history of this region. It is also helpful in creating a narrative of the region that could go a long way in understanding the basic features of Tulunadu that distinguishes it from the regions such as Kerala. The Sangam texts, indigenous sources such as Gramapaddhati, Sahyadri Khanda and Bhutalapandyarayana Aliyakattu, and the inscriptions provide information regarding the basic character of Tulunadu. These sources are also useful in analysing the extent of this region.
Abstract
The Portuguese conquest of Goa (west coast of India) led to the establishment of the fi... more Abstract The Portuguese conquest of Goa (west coast of India) led to the establishment of the first mint in this region, and the Portuguese authorities professionally managed it. They had to satisfy the demand of the Portuguese and local traders to obtain a consistent supply of currency to trade within and outside India. The paper highlights the rise and fall of the Portuguese mint in Goa. It is shown that the mints impacted the Goan culture in the long-term. Keywords: minting, currency, trade, politics, economy and society.
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Tulunadu is a region of south western India, which lies between northern part of coastal Karnataka and Kerala, also termed Malabar in the historiography. Over a period, Tulunadu has experienced a considerable metamorphosis. Modern historiography considers Tulunadu as comprising the two districts of the erstwhile South Kanara. Pre-modern historiography and sources however consider Tulunadu as a larger region comprising the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts and the northern part of Kanara up to Bhatkal, perhaps even going up to Mirjan. A study of the extent of Tulunadu and the origin of this term should clear various aspects concerning the history of this region. It is also helpful in creating a narrative of the region that could go a long way in understanding the basic features of Tulunadu that distinguishes it from the regions such as Kerala. The Sangam texts, indigenous sources such as Gramapaddhati, Sahyadri Khanda and Bhutalapandyarayana Aliyakattu, and the inscriptions provide information regarding the basic character of Tulunadu. These sources are also useful in analysing the extent of this region.
The Portuguese conquest of Goa (west coast of India) led to the establishment of the first mint in this region, and the Portuguese authorities professionally managed it. They had to satisfy the demand of the Portuguese and local traders to obtain a consistent supply of currency to trade within and outside India. The paper highlights the rise and fall of the Portuguese mint in Goa. It is shown that the mints impacted the Goan culture in the long-term.
Keywords: minting, currency, trade, politics, economy and society.