Trade has always been an important part of civilized society. Let me take this opportunity to put forward a King who ended all the lavish tax laws and made life easier for the tradesmen.
This King was sung amongst the traders as the fairest King. He was the lion of the Kakatiya dynasty and the legend of economic progress in Andhradesa. He was Ganapatideva. Let’s see why he did what he did and how do we know about it? Here’s is the little story.
Long long time ago before the Kakatiyas ruled the area of Andhradesa, trade especially the overseas trade saw a rapid decline. It was Ganapatideva, whose decided to encourage trade and provide necessary support to tradesmen. There is an inscription of Motupalli which bears all his thoughts. According to the king, glory was paramount. To uphold the glory and to be on the path of Dharma in the age of Kaliyuga, Ganapatideva granted certain privileges and relaxations to the sea traders.
The Motupalli inscription says that during the time when inscription was being written, the foreign traders were suffering to a large extent on the coast of the land of the Telugus. The local rulers would mercilessly extort all kinds of taxes and due under the name of some or the other law. Ganapatideva saw this as activity as unfair and unjust. He removed all these extra charges and ensured a hearty welcome to the foreign traders.
Ganapatideva’s ideology was simple and fair. He professed his sympathy for the guild and enterprises of merchant who valued wealth more than they feared death. The trade dues were regulated and the amount to be paid in dues was fixed. Marco Polo on his famous silk route adventure mentions the precious stones and fine cotton goods that were exported from Motupalli.
Different rates were fixed for the trade goods coming in from the north and the south. Local records stated that there was a settlement of foreign merchants at Pedaganjam in present Guntur district during the time of Ganapatideva. It is said in the glory of the King, “In the reign of Ganapatideva the parangis (foreigners) from foreign lands or islands built a town extending over a square piece of land of four kunchalu at the distance of two miles north-west of the village. There foreigners were carrying trade by sea and were powerful.”
The Motupalli record also mentions the trade relations that Andhra had with other countries. China is specifically mentioned and the record throws light on possible trade relations with Indonesia, Sumatra, Java, Japan, Burma, Malaya etc. The articles imported were zinc, pearls, camphor, ivory, oil, horses, elephants, nuts, gems, gold etc. Kakatiyas under Ganapatideva also developed a lot of sea ports to encourage sea trade. Motupalli and other coastal towns were used for this trade. Krsnapattanam gained popularity as a port during this particular period.
Such were the heroic deeds of Ganapatideva to bring an economic elevation of the society and respect the traders who risked their lives to buy and sell.
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