State and Government in Ancient India c20.173

c20.173

Forced labour is always an unpopular liability. Yuan Chwang found it non-existent in some places and sparingly exacted in others.⁶ The visits of inspecting officers were not every-day events; the right to free labour therefore eventually benefited the village communities themselves, as it enabled them to get the help and cooperation of a number of labourers, carpenters and smiths in building and repairing roads, rest-houses and tanks.