Q. With reference to the guilds (Shrend) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country's economy, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Every guild was registered with the central authority of the State and the king was the chief administrative authority on them.
- The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed by the guild.
- The guild had judicial powers over its own members.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below : (UPSC Prelims 2012)
Answer:
2 and 3 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[C] 2 and 3 only. The
Shrenis (guilds) were powerful professional organizations of merchants and artisans that functioned as autonomous units, playing a vital role in the stability and growth of the ancient Indian economy.Analysis of the Statements:
- Central Authority and the King (Statement 1 is Incorrect): While guilds were recognized by the State, the king was not their chief administrative authority. Guilds were largely self-governing bodies. The king’s role was generally limited to ensuring that guilds followed their own internal laws and intervened only in cases of extreme disputes. They were not "registered" in a modern bureaucratic sense with the king as their manager.
- Fixing Wages and Prices (Statement 2 is Correct): One of the primary functions of a Shreni was to prevent unhealthy competition and ensure quality. The guild established standardized wages, working hours, quality control, and fixed prices for goods produced by its members.
- Judicial Powers (Statement 3 is Correct): Guilds possessed quasi-judicial powers over their members. They had their own set of laws known as Shreni-dharma. The guild head (Jetthaka or Pamukha) could settle disputes between members and even punish those who violated guild rules. Secular law codes (like those of Manu and Yajnavalkya) explicitly recognized the validity of these guild laws.
Key Features of Ancient Indian Guilds (Shrenis):| Feature | Description |
| Banking Functions | Guilds acted as banks, receiving permanent deposits (Akshayanivi) and paying interest to religious institutions or the public. |
| Philanthropy | They used their profits to build temples, assembly halls, and water tanks for the community. |
| Mobility | Some guilds were mobile; for example, the Mandasor inscription mentions a guild of silk weavers moving from Lata (Gujarat) to Malwa. |
| Apprenticeship | They controlled the training of new craftsmen through a strictly regulated apprenticeship system. |