[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968) › c7.555 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.555 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.555 - **Language:** English ### [c7.555](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.555) According to our interpretation of the sources, the \*samiti\* alone was the popular institution of the Vedic period. What evidence there is for an earliest folk-assembly of the Vedic people is connected with the \*samiti\*, and according to our suggestion, it developed from the \*viś\*-body.⁴ Thus, the \*viś\* would be the forerunner of the \*samiti\*. We have shown above that the \*viś\* heads of families elected the king, and that it represented the earliest stage of political development in the non-monarchical political communities.⁵ If the \*vidatha\* were the earliest folk-assembly, it would be expected that it participated in some important tribal functions, such as the election of a king. We know of no verse in the \*Ṛg\* and \*Atharva Vedas\* which associates the \*vidatha\* with the establishment of a man to kingship. - [Previous: c7.554](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.554) - [Next: c7.556](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.556) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.555](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.555) · Pramāṇa