2025/12/11 by Marly Tiburcio-Carneiro · 2 voices
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography #Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies #Indian and Buddhist Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/03086534.2025.2594680
This article examines the responses of colonial authorities in British Burma and French Indochina to the Chettiar bankers following the 1929 stock market crash, focusing on the resulting tensions and economic impacts. This event reignited public debate around the enduring presence and influence of Indian bankers in both colonies, highlighting their longstanding role within the colonial economies. Exploring this pivotal moment and its significance highlights how Indian communities were impacted by the disruptive effects of the stock market crash. This period saw renewed scrutiny of their presence in colonial societies, as discussions arose around credit, debt, and the Chettiars’ role in the colonies’ financial burdens. It also foregrounded critical questions regarding the desirability and acceptability of these financial actors within the colonial framework.