Crafts Guilds in Medieval Telangana- As Gleaned from Kannada Inscriptions from Telangana

An attempt is made in the present paper to make a brief survey of the trade, and Crafts guilds, of the region through ages in general and that of the period in particular to understand in proper perspective, the corporate activities of the guilds. Since antiquity, the people of Telangana region showed a keen interest in trade and commerce. The dangers on the high ways inspired the traders to travel in groups under the leadership of a Sarthavaha. Economic development of the region, during medieval period, depended upon many factors such as; 1. Geography, 2. Political conditions, 3. Social institutions and customs, 4. Transport and communication. Despite disturbed political conditions and frequent changes of ruling families, trade and commerce in this region seems to have flourished without much interruption. The valuable gifts made by the traders, merchants and their wives were possible because of the wealth and prosperity of the trading community. The inscriptions from various sites from different parts of Telangana record the donations made by a class of people called Sresthins' or Settis' appearing to be respectable tradesmen enjoying special position of honour among the members of their profession.