abstract:Bania (Devanagari: बनिया) is a caste from the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The name Bania is derived from the Sanskrit word vanijya (merchant); by preference, Newar Banias anglicise their name as Bania rather than Baniya in order to distinguish themselves from the Indo-Nepali trading caste.
Although the commercial bania caste was useful in kick-starting Indian capitalism, Mr Das points out that in a liberalised economy governed by rules rather than patronage, companies cannot afford to hire employees on the basis of caste.