The Colas c26.31

c26.31

Lest it should be thought that village assemblies as a rule lost their initiative and passed under the control of the central government in the late Cōḷa period, it may be noted that the *mahāsabhā* of Kāmadavalli-caturvēdimangalam resolved in a.d. 1232 to adhere to an earlier decision of theirs to constitute their executive (*grāmakāryam*) from among those who agreed to serve on the basis of a yearly tenure;⁵⁹ and there is no evidence of any reference to the central government on either occasion. Likewise, the *mahāsabhā* of Śembiyanmahādēvi resolved of their own accord not to hold meetings of the executive at night for purposes of local administration (*grāma-kāryam*) and for considering revenue affairs (*kaḍamaikkāriyam*), as nocturnal meetings resulted in inefficient work (*upahati*) and extra expenditure of oil for lamps. They fixed the day from which the new arrangement came into force. They also resolved not to reappoint any person to the executive (*kūṭṭam*) within five years after one term of office.⁶⁰ The inscription is dated in the seventeenth year of Rājarāja III. The distinction made here between *grāmakāryam*, local affairs, and *kaḍamaik-kāriyam*, revenue business, deserves to be particularly noted. Though this distinction is not expressly found in other records, we are justified in assuming that it was observed universally by all the village assemblies which had definite responsibilities both towards the locality concerned and towards the central government.