State and Government in Ancient India c13.134

c13.134

The villages in the Gaṇa states must have had their own Panchāyats and there is no reason to believe that their powers were less than those of the Panchāyats under monarchies. It is hardly likely that the membership of the village Panchāyats was confined to the members of the privileged aristocracy; most of the latter must have been staying in cities and the capital. As in other states, all the village interests like agriculture, trade, industry, etc. must have been represented on the village council. This is of course a conjecture, but a very likely one.