Q.Give the meaning of the term "Vanigam".

"Vanigam" is the classical Tamil term meaning trade/commerce — the exchange of goods for profit — and it points to the long, rich history of Tamil trading activity from the Sangam period onwards.

In the Tamil Nadu HSC Commerce syllabus, the historical background of commerce in the sub-continent highlights the ancient roots of Tamil trade, and the very word for commerce in Tamil is "Vanigam."

• Meaning: "Vanigam" means trade or commerce — the activity of buying and selling goods with the aim of earning a profit.
• Who carried it on: A person engaged in vanigam was called a "Vanigan" (trader/merchant). …