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Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c14.s2: Internal Organisation

Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c14.s2

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Internal Organisation

c14.s2.1

at two, three or five. According to Kātyāyana the assembly has the right to punish the officers, but the latter seem generally, or at any rate in important disputes, to have been dealt with by the king. If they acted according to the law, all their dealings, harsh or kind, towards their own people should be approved by the king. But if they were swayed by malice, or if they were guilty of misappropriation of money, they fell into the clutches of the king. For members in general Bṛihaspati prescribes a rigid discipline to be enforced by various penalties. All must abide by the terms of agreement of the corporation and fulfil their share of undertakings. He who wilfully refuses to adhere to the agreement "shall be punished by confiscation of his entire property and banishment from the town." For wrangling with fellow-members and neglect of work, one is to be heavily fined. For breaking a mutual agreement, injuring the common stock, as for insulting a Brāhmaṇa acquainted with the three Vedas, one is to be banished from the town.¹

c14.s2.2

¹ Nārada, X, 3. Bṛihaspati, XVII, 11–19.

c14.s2.3

From the context in which these passages occur, it is apparent that these serious punishments are to be enforced by the king. In theory, then, the state is closely associated with corporations, guiding them, protecting them, restraining them. In practice, the amount of state control must have varied with distance from state or provincial capitals, the strength of the central government, the prestige of guilds and the character of their work. Unfortunately, the inscriptions which furnish copious descriptions of the activities of guilds throw little light on their administrative practice. But, in theory at any rate, the guilds are not so autonomous as one or two modern writers incline to think.

c14.s2.4

Perhaps the greatest amount of self-government was enjoyed by guilds on the technical side of their affairs.

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