Anjuvannam

Anjuvannam (in Malayalam, from the Persian anjuman, and hanjama or hanjamana in Telugu or Kannada or hamyamana) typically refers to a medieval merchant guild consisting of non-Indian traders — principally ethnic Persians and Arabs — who were primarily active in south India. Along with manigramam and ainurruvar (the Ayyavole Five Hundred), the anjuvannam merchant guild played a major role in the commercial activities of southern India during the medieval period.

Unlike the manigiramam merchant guild, which also operated in the Indian hinterland, the presence of anjuvannam is found only in coastal towns. In some ports, this guild obtained royal charters that granted special immunities and privileges within those cities. Anjuvannam is mentioned in a number of south Indian inscriptions, most notably in the Quilon Syrian copper plates (c. 849 CE) and the Jewish copper plates of Cochin (c. 1000 CE). The guild was initially engaged in commercial activities along the Kerala coast before expanding its operations to other south Indian coasts.