State and Government in Ancient India c18.s1.19

c18.s1.19

The village headman was the most influential person in the village. The *Śukranīti*'s observation that he was like the father and the mother to the villagers is substantially true.³ Though responsible to the central government, he was generally a man of the people and keen to protect their interests. He was as much indispensable to the people as to the government.