Question

What do the term "Anchuvannam" and "Manigramam" refer to?
A) An influential group of landlords.
B) An influential group of priestly brahmins.
C) Group of Naduvazhis.
D) An influential guild of trading merchants.

Answer 1

Hint: Manigramam activities in South India have been documented since the 5th century CE. Manigiramam is initially mentioned in two copper plate grants from south Karnataka (from Melekote, Tumkur, and Hassan districts), both dated to the 5th century CE. A grant of land to a Buddhist shrine is recorded in the Melekote charter.

Complete answer:
A Manigramam is a vast, prominent guild of South Indian merchants, and Anjuvannam was a Jewish community/colony (corporation/guild) in southern India. They were Kerala's trade organisations from the 9th century to the 13th century CE.

Manigiramam, or manigramam, is a mediaeval merchant guild largely active in south India and organised by itinerant ethnic Indian traders. The manigramam, together with the ainnurruvar (the Ayyavole Five Hundred) and the anjuvannam (the anjuman), played a significant part in the region's trade operations. Unlike the anjuvannam, which was only found in south Indian port towns, the manigramam can be found in both port towns and hinterland trading centres.

Anjuvannam is a mediaeval commercial guild largely active in south India and made up of non-Indian businessmen. The anjuvannam merchant guild, together with manigramam and ainnurruvar, played a significant role in the region's commercial operations. Unlike manigramam, which operated in the Indian hinterland as well, anjuvannam is only found in coastal towns.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘D’. The term "Anchuvannam" and "Manigramam" refer to an influential guild of trading merchants.

Note: West Asian traders operating in south India formed the guild of anjuvannam, which included Jewish, Syrian Christian, Muslim, and Zoroastrian Parsi merchants. The anjuvannam guild was identified by historian Y. Subbarayalu as a "body of West Asian traders."