Role of Guilds and Artisans in the Indian Economy
The term Śreṇi (guild) in ancient India referred to organized associations of merchants, traders, and artisans, functioning as self-governing economic corporations. These guilds played a pivotal role in regulating production, quality control, pricing, trade routes, labour, and taxation, representing the backbone of India’s pre-industrial economy. Artisans (kārmika, śilpin) — the skilled craft workers — were the productive arm of these guilds, contributing to India’s global fame in textiles, metalwork, ivory, and jewellery.
Origin and Evolution of Guilds
Vedic and Pre-Mauryan Period (c. 1000–321 BCE)
- Early references to professional communities appear in the Rigveda (terms like pani, karmakara for ....
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