Local Government in Ancient India c13.121

c13.121

We have also instances of the merchants (*nagarattār*) residents and professionals (*ūrār*) and district representatives (*nāṭṭār*) participating in the deliberations of the Sabhās or Brahmanical assemblies. In a rather late record (no. 2 of 1913) we have even the evidence of the common action of different communities of Brāhmans and lower castes in making a common gift. No. 26 of Sewell's list (a Madura inscription) refers to an assembly of the communities of the Nāiks, Ambalakāras and Kavundas deciding a dispute. No. 315 of 1909 refers to Brāhman villages (*agrabrahmadeśa*), agricultural villages, and towns (*nagara*), making a joint gift. We have also evidence showing that in some of the transactions of the Brāhman assemblies even the village blacksmith and goldsmith were associated in the important capacities of witnesses and signatories to documents for transfer of property (*S. I. I.*, vol. II, part III, 76 B; no. 71, ibid. vol. III, part II, &c.).