Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c11.2

c11.2

In India the one political institution that has survived revolutions, changes of empires, ravages of time and the influence of alien domination is local government. The village institutions retained their vitality till almost the commencement of the British rule in India. About the services rendered by these village republics in India Elphinstone observes: "Though probably not compatible with a very good form of government they are an excellent remedy for the imperfections of a bad one. They prevent the bad effects of negligence and weakness and even present some barrier against its tyranny and rapacity. Again, these communities contain in miniature all the materials of a state within themselves, and are almost sufficient to protect their members if all other government were withdrawn. In the stability and continuity of Indian village life and organisation is to be sought the secret of the good things achieved by India in the past."¹