History
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Religious Conversion
Boycott Campaign
Gujaratis taught a lesson to Aurangzeb over religious conversion with a boycott campaign.
The world's richest trader of that time led the campaign.
The story goes like this.
The world's richest trader of that time led the campaign.
The story goes like this.
The year was 1669. In Surat, Nuruddin Kazi forcibly converted two Hindus and one Jain to Islam. Radical Muslims helped him. It was Aurangzeb's policy too.
At that time, conversion was seen as a huge deal. Among three converted people, one committed suicide.
At that time, conversion was seen as a huge deal. Among three converted people, one committed suicide.
This event got reactions from society. Gujarat had Mahajans (general assemblies) of businessmen.
Jains and Vaishnav Baniyas used to have an influence on them.
These Mahajans decided the business policy. They were the de facto voice of entrepreneurs.
Jains and Vaishnav Baniyas used to have an influence on them.
These Mahajans decided the business policy. They were the de facto voice of entrepreneurs.
At that time, Bhimji Parekh, a Hindu Baniya, organised fellow merchants.
Veerji Vora was a Jain Baniya having influence over Jain Sanghas. Vora was the world's richest trader at that time. He gave a call for boycott and non-cooperation.
Veerji Vora was a Jain Baniya having influence over Jain Sanghas. Vora was the world's richest trader at that time. He gave a call for boycott and non-cooperation.
Now, textile mills got stopped. The customs house was shut down. Vegetable and grocery markets closed down.
Meanwhile, Parekh requested Brits for shelter in Bombay. But Bombay was not fortified back then. They refused.
Meanwhile, Parekh requested Brits for shelter in Bombay. But Bombay was not fortified back then. They refused.
On September 24 and 25 of 1669, 8000 merchant families left for Bharuch from Surat.
In starting, Nuruddin and Aurangzeb were adamant. But things were getting difficult now. Everything was disrupted without a shred of violence.
A lesson was learnt.
In starting, Nuruddin and Aurangzeb were adamant. But things were getting difficult now. Everything was disrupted without a shred of violence.
A lesson was learnt.
In pressure, political authorities are to change their stand now. They promised these families the safety of their religion. Aurangzeb pleaded to resettle. Only after 20 December 1969 these families started coming back.
Bhimji Parekh (1st pic) was a great businessman and broker. He brought the first printing press to India. He had the intention of printing ancient manuscripts.
They can be "useful or at least grateful to posterity".
His grandson married a Jain lady. Later, they became Jains.
They can be "useful or at least grateful to posterity".
His grandson married a Jain lady. Later, they became Jains.
Veerji Vora (2nd pic) was also a businessman and merchant. From Agra to Ahmedabad, Goa to Calicut, he did a trade of tea, coffee, pepper, cotton, and opium.
He made tea & coffee famous among Indian elites.
British East India Company called him the world's richest man.
He made tea & coffee famous among Indian elites.
British East India Company called him the world's richest man.
Both were excellent philanthropists too.
Marxist historians will never tell about these capitalist "villains" and their influence.
Orientalists don't care. For, king-focused historians, the rest subjects are secondary. That's why you don't even hear their names!
Marxist historians will never tell about these capitalist "villains" and their influence.
Orientalists don't care. For, king-focused historians, the rest subjects are secondary. That's why you don't even hear their names!
References:
1. Book: Indian Merchants and Entrepreneurs in Historical Perspective (Makrand Mehta)
2. Book: Recasting India: How Entrepreneurship is Revolutionalizing the World's Largest Democracy (Hindol Sengupta)
1. Book: Indian Merchants and Entrepreneurs in Historical Perspective (Makrand Mehta)
2. Book: Recasting India: How Entrepreneurship is Revolutionalizing the World's Largest Democracy (Hindol Sengupta)
3. Book: Surat In The Seventeenth Century: A Study in Urban History of pre-modern India (BG Gokhale)
4. Article: bbc.com
4. Article: bbc.com
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