Jaiswal, Oswal, Jain, Shah, Khandelwal, Agrawal. These names appear across the length and breadth of India today — in commerce and manufacturing, markets and politics. They are probably borne by some of Thinking Medieval’s readers. Yet, few are aware of the fascinating history behind these names—a tale of social mobility, high-stakes politics, and the evolution of medieval India’s best-attested commercial institutions. Communities and corporations In December 2022, the National Museum in Delhi organised an exhibition of Jain manuscripts dating to between 1000–1500 CE or so. Produced with magnificent calligraphy of gold leaf, richly coloured with red and blue pigment, these...