Diminishing Opportunities in Native Land
In the course of the 18th century, the Shekhawat thakurs sought service in the Jaipur army.In spite of their employment in the Jaipur army, many Shekhawat thakurs attempted to supplement the meager earnings from their decreases estates by resorting to banditry.
In 1835, in a bid to restore law and order, the British East India Company recommended the formation of the Shekhawati Brigade, an army of local troops that was successful in curbing the excess of these thakurs.
By 1820’s because of high duties, traders were preferring diversion through Shekhawati and caravan trade across the region presented an ever-decreasing proportion of the local Bania’s source of wealth.
By 19th Century the Banias had become quite powerful. They could tolerate only a certain amount of extorsion by their Rajput rulers and then they started exhibiting their firmness and made confident moves, migrating out of their region.
Another geographical factor which might have had an impact on trade through these routes could have been the “1819 Rann of Kutch Earthquake” that dammed the Puram river and changed the course of Sindhu river which flowed through “Lakhpat”, the last frontier of Kutch and a prominent port at the mouth of “Kori” creek. Lakhpat which literally means the city of millionaires was an important trading post connecting Gujarat to Sindh.
MYTH
Merchant families moved out of their native land in Rajasthan due to famines
REALITY
There were several famines in Rajasthan in 1812-13, 1868-69, 1877, 1891-92 and 1899, but there is little indication that these were times of accelerated out migration by businessmen. On the contrary, according to some observers, businessmen were able to assist in transportation grain to the affected areas
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