[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) › c7.582 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.582 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.582 - **Language:** English ### [c7.582](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.582) The evidence produced and discussed above would show that the \*vidatha\* had no tribal or national basis and performed no religious, social or political functions for the entire political community. Professor Sharma's claim that the \*vidatha\* was the "earliest folk-assembly of the Indo-Āryans" which undertook multifarious activities, economic, military, distributive, etc., on behalf of the whole tribe, cannot be substantiated. On the contrary, Vedic literature shows that the \*vidatha\* was a local congregation performing mainly religious rites and ceremonies for the good luck and prosperity of the settlement. It sometimes prayed in bardic fashion for the victory of the tribe; women participated in its religious ceremonies and rites; it took part in socio-religious ceremonies such as weddings in the settlement; the gods were its heroes, and it craved for heroes. In short, it was a local assembly meeting mainly for religious purposes, and perhaps that is the reason why most writers on the political institutions of ancient India have either ignored the \*vidatha\* completely¹ or have just mentioned it in passing.² - [Previous: c7.581](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.581) - [Next: c7.583](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.583) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.582](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.582) · Pramāṇa