Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c6.s1.1

c6.s1.1

The detailed study of republican institutions in ancient India has attracted only a few scholars since Rhys Davids. Sixty-five years ago, he first brought to the notice of students the existence of nine republican clans¹ attested to in the Buddhist literature. Before the publication of *Buddhist India*, little was known of the republics even during the Buddhist period. Thus, Professor Rhys Davids can aptly be acclaimed the pioneer in this field. However, the conclusions stated in his often-quoted monograph give only a bird’s-eye-view of these republics.² The Sakyas receive comparatively lengthier treatment because, in his opinion, “more details are given, very naturally, of the Sākiya clan than of the others.”³ Thirty-two years later Rhys Davids restated his position briefly in the *Cambridge History of India*⁴ with slight improvement.