The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c20.73

c20.73

Mârwâr in the last period of the ancient age is undoubted. Elsewhere in the North we only find the village elders—Mahattaras or Mahattamas—informally associated with village officers from the Gupta period onwards. In this respect the North offers a strong contrast to the South which had by this time evolved a regular system of village self-government through assemblies, committees and elective officers working under the general supervision of the government.