In its inaugural event, HistoryWorks! will host a talk by Dr Thomas Timberg who has studied 18-19th century Marwari firms like Tarachand Ghanshyamdas, with the aim to understand their unique business ethic
Dr Thomas Timberg
Q. What are some of the entrepreneurial traits that separate the Marwaris from other business communities?
>> Vocational commitment to business entrepreneurship.
>> Support systems in the family and community for entrepreneurs —commercial intelligence, finance and markets.
>> Willingness to manage risk.
Q. What impelled large firms like Tarachand Ghanshyamdas to establish themselves as leaders in pre-Independent India?
A. Opportunities were created both in the bazaar economies of the big cities, by government finance for British and princely governments. There was a need for up-country marketing network — to sell and buy goods into the all-India value chains. The structural advantages that the large firms had in terms of national network, trained and committed personnel, solid finance, and sound commercial systems, also helped.
Q. What will be the focus of your HistoryWorks! lecture in Mumbai?
A. A plea for attention to a broader range of sources for Indian economic and business history including business account books as in the case of my work on Tarachand Ghanshyamdas — but also as with other recent historians in India, urban land tenure records and Hindi novels.
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