Vaishya

Vaishya a Hindu caste. Vaisyas occupy third position and enjoy the occupations of pursuing farming, trade and commerce. Thus the economy was controlled by the Vaishyas.

The Vaisya traders and merchants transacted trade and commerce not only throughout India but also transacted businesses with the foreigners. Subsequently, various merchant classes and business communities flourished in ancient and mediaeval India.The 'Vaisya' community includes the Agrawal, Maheshwari, Khadelwal, Oswal, Joswal, Polwal, Das, and Mahajan. But in Bengal, their presence was always very small until the early British period. [Hiralal Bala]