Company of Kinsmen

Groups commonly called caste or community played a large role in the economic history of India. Where did their authority come from? What uses were made of it? How did the uses change? Company of Kinsmen shows that their authority derived from an ancient discourse on statecraft that assured juridical autonomy to professional groups. With that assurance, they controlled scarce resources, negotiated with kings and made members follow rules. In the 19th century, the colonial state made the guarantee weaker by creating law courts where autonomy could be challenged. At the same time, globalization encouraged new and unorthodox relationships. Yet, ties of caste and community did not dissolve, for people often relied on these ties even more when they did business with unknown people in uncertain environments. Groups survived, while battling challenges from within and without.