Merchants of High Ranges: Rural Commercial Capitalists in the Cardamom Market

This study outlines the emergence and gradual domination of a community within the market for a commodity. Focusing on the Syrian Christian community in Kerala, India, we explore their ascent as dominant players in the market for small cardamom. Through a historical analysis of Syrian Christian migration and subsequent entrepreneurial endeavours, we demonstrate how this community leveraged social networks, political influence and strategic business practices to establish themselves as both producers and traders of cardamom. By competing with Nairs in the nineteenth century and collaborating with Tamil capital in the twentieth century, Syrian Christians gradually emerged as a dominant force within the cardamom market. This article elucidates the multifaceted strategies employed by Syrian Christians, including the formation of a political party, the secularization of religious symbols and the strategic use of media to emerge as a dominant force in the cardamom market. It further outlines how the emergence of Syrian Christians changed the market. Through a close reading of quality grades and associated practices of market-making, the article details how Syrian-Christian-dominated firms shaped the cardamom market.