-By Ashish Agarwal.

Who we are... where we came from...

We Agarwals belong to the large Vaishya community and we are found in almost every part of the country. We are also known as Banias because of our occupation. Maharaja Agrasena is regarded as family God for all of Agarwal community. He was born 5200 years ago around the time of Mahabharat.

He was the father of our community and even today we find great pride in carrying forth the values and tradition taught to us by our forefathers.

Members of our community have traditionally been wealthy, as a result of our hard work and occupations. We are proudly referred to as the "mercantile caste" as well. We have traditionally valued education, as an important accomplishment in life.

By and large being businessmen and traders, we Agarwals enjoy a fair share of representation in several professions. Our community has proudly produced numerous renowned businessmen and industrialists like the Dalmias, Modis, Singhanias, Srirams and Bajajs. We also have many distinguished jurists, educationists, scientists, engineers, politicians, doctors, philosophers, poets, and scholars as part of our large family.

As a merchant community, we Agarwals have helped India to expand and become a formidable economic force in its own right. Many members of our community were also behind the development of Indian industrialism in the 20th century, which continue to be economic powerhouses in India. We have also played prominent role in promoting industries after the British rule.

One thing that unites each family in our community is the sense of social responsibility. It is to be noted that many members of our community actively involved in Swadeshi movements. Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the prominent Agarwals to sacrifice his life for freedom struggle. Bharatendu Harishchandra was responsible for establishing Hindi as India's national language, and wrote the first history of the Agarwal community.

Even today we Agarwals participate actively in social service and carry the fame of our founder.

• The name Agrawal or Aggarwal is derived from the Agragan state said to be founded by Maharaja Agrasen some 5000 years ago.
• Maharaja Agrasen is said to have lived up to the age of 193 and ruled for more than a hundred years.
• Agrasen attached great importance to family life and instituted 18 gotras and restricted people of the same gotra from intermarrying, a custom which prevails even today.