Studies in Cola History and Administration c10.2

c10.2

A fresh study of local government at Uttaramērūr in the Cōḷa period after so many writers have traversed the ground may appear at once futile and venturesome. We may be told by those who have heard all about democracy and pot-tickets at Uttaramērūr (and they are not few) that there can be nothing new in this twice-told tale and that it would be more useful to leave Uttaramērūr well alone and turn to some less trodden part of the field. And the promise implied in an attempt like the present one to discover new information, or to reinterpret old and well-known data may, in view of the narrow limits of the subject and the eminence of the scholars who have worked on it before, seem to be more courageous than discreet. Nevertheless the fact is that with the exception of Mr. Venkayya who did great work on the two inscriptions from Uttaramērūr which are best-known, and that only on account of his work, not many writers have done aught else than repeat his statements uncritically; and that this has happened a number of times has contributed most to prejudice the chances of a fresh examination of the Parāntaka inscriptions above-mentioned and of a more comprehensive study of the new material published since 1904.