Hindu Administrative Institutions c12.s1.75

c12.s1.75

the various interests touching the village or the city were of the nature of a working democracy wherein there was an equitable and complete representation of various interests. These organizations were largely socialistic in character and thus embodied pure democratic ideals. Not only was this true of the domain of politics but also in the province of industry and commerce. Dr. A. Coomaraswami says:¹ Each caste or trade possessed an organization largely socialistic in character embodying democratic and communistic ideas. It may well be doubted whether the true hope for Indian industry does not lie in some such developments of the caste system itself, in the village and home industries of the caste, aided by such improvements as are needed (e.g., the fly-shuttle or the distribution of electric power).' This is largely true of development in other fields of public activity also. If progress were to be real, India must advance on lines congenial to her culture and environment.