Local Government in Ancient India c6.s2.2

c6.s2.2

The sphere of local government also exhibits a noteworthy democratic development in ancient India. A study of the institutions reflecting that development will throw considerable clear light not only on our early economic history, now shrouded in obscurity, but also on some of the basal factors of ancient Hindu culture and civilization. Respect for tradition and authority and a blind faith, rather than discriminating judgement, are generally supposed to be the primary formative factors of early Hindu society, despite the many manifestations of the democratic principle in such characteristically Hindu institutions as the joint family, the communal holding of land in the typical village community, and the like, as well as in the numerous self-governing, ‘kingless’ states in ancient India, the existence of which is attested by sober history.