History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c41.s24.4

v3.c41.s24.4

"Mr. P. Menon refers to various inscriptions which mention village assemblies. This is a feature which bears close similarity to the well-known growth of local representative bodies in Tamil country as proved by later Pallava, Chola and Pāṇḍya records. The village assembly of Kerala met under the presidency of the āśān or headman, decided social desputes, settled petty cases and attended to the various requirements of temples. The early British administrators of Malabar ignored the tara organisation of the Nairs. The great assembly of the whole country was held once in twelve years. It was presided over by Valluvanad or Vallattiri Raja till the 13th century when the Zamorin assumed the presidency. The last assembly was held in 1743".