1.

State your opinion:Discuss in detail the functioning of guilds or shrenis.

Answer»
  • The guilds of the merchants and the artisans played a great role in the growth of Mahajanapadas into wealthy states. 
  • The guilds had their own way of organisation and functioning.
  • Guilds had their own strict rules. Hence, they had a stringent structure. 
  • This stringent structure is perceived as one of the main reasons for the rise of the caste system.
  • The paid outsiders who worked in the guilds were known as ‘Karmakara’ and unpaid workers as ‘Dasa’.
  • During the Mauryan period, the king’s control of the transactions of guilds was very important. 
  • Structurally the shrenis had a great potential of channeling the central power. 
  • The functioning of the guilds was controlled by the state. Detailed records were kept of the production by the guilds. 
  • Each guild had its own rules based on its traditions. The state did not interfere in the functioning of the guilds.
  • The chief of a guild of artisans was known as ‘Jyesthaka’ or ‘Jyetthaka’. 
  • The chief of a guild of merchants was known as ‘Shreshthi’ or ‘Setthi’.


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