Vyapar Shastra

from barter systems to global start-ups

The Practice of Business in India

A fascinating insight into vyapar in the ancient past and global present

Vyapar Shastra gives an engaging account of the history of vyapar, or business, in India. From the local kiranawalla to urban businessmen heading conglomerates, it details the lives of vyaparis across the social spectrum and how they drive India’s economy.

Filled with captivating illustrations, the text covers a range of business models – from the mela to the mall; from the village haat to the hypermarket; and from the trusted city bazaars to novel e-commerce setups.

In two distinctive book sections – Vyapar and Parivar – the author reveals the characteristics of family businesses in India and how the two often merge in the Indian social context. Enriched with personal encounters – starting from shawl merchants in Kashmir to tea-stall owners in southern India – and his observations of the emerging startup models, this book examines the highs and lows of vyapar in a changing world.