Republican State in Ancient India

This Presentation is prepared for BA Students to get basic idea of Ancient Republican State.

1. Republican States
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Center for Advanced Studies
Department of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology,
Banaras Hindu University

2. Republic States

3. Theme of the Subject
Introduction:
Sources:
Historical
Background:
Buddha Views
On Republic
Important
Republics
Polity and
Administrations of Republics
Lichacchavis
Sakyas
Republican
States

4. What is Republican State?
•Astateinwhichsupremepowerisheldbythepeople
andtheirelectedrepresentatives,.
•ThetermdemocracyisderivedfromtwoGreekwords
'Demos'andKratos.Demosmean'people'andKratos
means'rule'.
•AsMontesquieuputsit,“Therepublicansystemis
thatinwhichsovereignpowerispossessedbyeither
thewholepeopleorsomepartofit”.
•Thepeoplemaydelegatepowertoasinglemanora
groupofselectedmen.
•Ineithercase,theyshouldbethemenofthechoiceof
thepeople,exercisingauthorityinmoderation.

5. Introduction
•ItwasbelievedthattheAncientIndianPeopleknew
onlythemonarchy.
•Monarchicalandnon-monarchical(democratic)form
ofthestateprevailinginIndia.
•InthesixthcenturyB.C.,wefindalargenumberof
statesinnorthernIndia.
•Thesewerethemostancientexistingstatesnotonlyof
Indiabutoftheworld
•Republics known as: Ganas(group of people)
•Sangha: used in the republic sense

6. Source
1.Buddhist Literature
2.Mahabharata
3.Greek Historians
4.Panini, Katyayan, Patanjali,
5.Arthashashtra
6.Inscriptions
7.Coins

7. The Vedic Gana
•SanghaandGanaaretwotermsusedforthenon-monarchical
systemsofgovernment.
•ThewordGanahasbeenusedfortysixtimesintheRigveda,
ninetimesintheAtharvavedaandinseveralplacesinthe
Brahmans.
•TheSmritisunderstandGanaasassemblageoffamilies.
•DrJayaswalunderstandsGanaas‘numbers’:Ganarajyawill
thereforemean‘ruleofnumbers’,‘theruleofmany’.
•AccordingtoDr.B.K.Sarkarthetermimpliestheregnumofthe
wholepeople.
•Buhler translated it as an autonomous corporation of tradesmen
•Dr. Fleet and other scholars interpreted it as an autonomous
tribe or a self-governing community.
•Ganarajyawas consequently denoted, government by assembly.

8. According to Greek Writers
1.Greek historians observed both Monarchy and
Republics in ancient India.
2.GreekHistoriansalsosuggesttheRepublicanStates
intheN-Warea.
AccordingtoGreekwriters
1.Puruwasrepublic
2.NyasawasalsokindofRepublic(oligarchy)
3.LotofRepublicstatesintheareaofIndusRiver

9. Sabha & Samiti
•InVedicperiod,Afewdemocraticelementscurtailedthe
absolutepowerofthekinginmanyways.
•TheVedicAssembliesconsistedoftwoHouses:thetwin
daughtersofLordPrajaprati,
•Samiti
1.ElectionoftheKing,
2.Re-electionofakingwhohadbeenbanishedand
3.DiscussionoftheStatematters
•Sabha
1.ItisjustpossiblethatwhiletheSamitiwasprobablynational
assembly,theSabhawasitsstandingbody.

10. Later Vedic period
•AitareyaBrahman:
•PeopleneartheHimalayaslikeUttarKurusandthe
Uttar-madrashadaVirat(Kingless)state.
•Vairajya:Kingless
•Headsofthefounderfamily,wereconsecratedfor
therulership.
•Uttar-madras,continuedtoberepublicanstatesupto
the4thC.CE.

11. Historical References
1.MahabharatareferstotheGanaRajaortheruleoftheRepublics.
2.Panini,thecelebratedauthoroftheSanskritGrammar(600B.C.),
mentionsanumberofrepublicsthatexistedinhistime
3.ThewholeofBuddhistliteratureaboundswithreferencestothe
republicsthenexistting
4.TheBuddhahimselfwasborninarepublicanpeople
5.Hecalledthecommunitywhichhefounded“BhikkhuSangha”,or
theRepublicofBikkhu
6.Avadanasataka:AmercheantstoldtokingwhotravelledtoDeccan
fromMadhydesha“thesearesomecountriesareGanaorrepublican
States.
7.Acharangsutra:WarnedJainmonktoavoidtovisitwherenokings
orGanaformofgovernment.
8.NumurescoinsofYaudehyasandMalvasbearsthenameof“Gana”
(ArjunayananamJayah)

12. Buddhist literature
•InvariousplacesofBuddhistliteraturethemain
featuresoftherepublicshavebeendescribed.
•MagadhaKingwantedtoknowtheopinionofthe
BuddhaforinvadingthethreeRepublicsoftheVajjis,
theLichchhavisandVidehas,
1.Aslongastheserepublicshadthesestrongpointsthe
Kingcouldnotsuppressthem.
2.Heenumeratesthestrongpointsasfollow……

13. Buddha’s View on Republican States
1.ToholdfullandfrequentpublicAssemblies
2.Tomeettogetherinconcord,
3.Riseinconcordandtocarryouttheirundertakingsconcord;
4.Toenactnothingnotalreadyestablished,
5.AbrogatenothingthathasbeenalreadyenactedandactinaccordancewiththeancientinstitutionsoftheVajjiansasestablishedinformerdays
6.Tohonour,esteem,revere,andsupporttheVajjianeldersandholditapointofdutytoharkentotheirwords
7.Tosupporttheoldshrinesintownorcountry
8.Tohonourwomenandnotdetainthembyforceorabduction.
•Thispassagethuspointsoutthattherequisitesforthesuccessofarepublicinthosedayswere:
1.TherespectofitsmembersfortheirParliament,
2.Theyshouldmeetoftenand,
3.Theywerefullyattendedfortheirancientlaws,customsandinstitutions,forseniorityandexperienceanditsinternalharmonyinpolicyandadministration

14. Republics form and constitution
•Afewscholarshaveexpressedtheopinionthatevery
adultofthepopulationparticipatedinthe
administration;
•SomeothersmaintainthatonlyKshatriyashadthis
right;
•Othershaveexpressedtheviewthatonlyheadofa
joint-familywasallowedtoparticipateinthe
administration.
•Mostlytheopinionsofscholarsaredividedonthebasis
oftheabovementioneddifferencesofviews.

15. Dr Jayaswal’sview on Republic
1.DemocraciesorpureGana,whereinthetotaladult-
populationparticipatedintheadministration;
2.AristocraciesorpureKula,whereinonlysome
selectedfamiliesparticipatedintheadministration;
and
3.Mixedaristocraciesanddemocraciesoramixtureof
KulaandGana,whereintheadministrationwasthe
mixtureofthetwo.

16. Dr. Bhandarkar’s view on Republic
•Therepublicswerebasicallydividedintotwotypes,
1.Purerepublicsand
2.Kshatriyaaristocracies.
•Theneachofthemwasfurtherdividedintotwoparts.
•Boththerepublicsandthearistocracieswereoftwo
types,
1.Unitary:calledCity-republicsorNigamas
2.Federal:calledState-republicsorJanapadas

17. Important Republics
1.The Mallasof Pava
2.Licchavisof Vaishali
3.The shakyaof Kapilvastu
4.The Koliyaof Ramagrama
5.The Bhagya of
Sunsamagiri
6.The Mauryasof
Piphalivana
7.The Kalama of Suputa
8.The Videhasof Mithila
8. The Ghvatrikasof
Kollanga
9. The Asmakas,
10. The Malavas,
11. The Kshudrakas,
12. The Arjunayanas,
13. The Mushikas,
14. The Yaudheys
15. The Madrakas

18. Administrative Body
Republics
Assembly
Executive Council

19. Administrations of Republics
Executive Council
Assembly
Republics
•Limited Members
•To handle confidential issues
•Large members
•General matter of the state
•Small size
•Bigger size

20. Administration of Small Republicans
•TheMoriya,theKoliyasandtheSakyasweresmall
republics.
•Containafewarea(numberofvillages;moderndistricts?)
•TheirAdministrationmightbedifferentthanthebigger
republicslikeMalavasandYaudheyas.
•Theserepublicstateshavingassemblyhall(Santhagaras)
•FrequentmeetingswereprevalentinSanthagaras
•MembersoftheCentralAssemblyprobablylivedin
Capital,neartotheSanthagaras.
•EachmemberofthearistocraticordercalledasaRaja.
•Jatka:oneofmemberssoncalledasUpraja.
•SakhyatownandvillageshastheirownAssemblymeetings
(Santhagaras)

21. Administration of Bigger Republics
•BiggerstatelikeYaudheyasortheMalvasweredividedinto
a)Provinces,
b)Cities,
c)Villages.
•EachprovinceshasseparateGovernor.
•Thecitiesalsocompletelyautonomousandadministrated
bytheirownmen.
•Citycouncilprobablyconsist:Traders,Artisan,Peasants.
•Invillagecouncil,headmanofthevillageprobablya
memberofrulingclass.
•MembersoftheVillagecouncilmaybelongedtothe
differenttradesandprofessions.

22. Members of the Assembly
1.Membersnumbervariesaccordingtothesizeofstate.
2.Yaudheyas:5000members
3.Licchhvis:7707members
4.Kshudrakas:sent150mentonegotiatepeacewith
Alexander.
5.Probablyeverycitizenhasrighttoattendthemeeting
likeGreekandAthens
6.Yaudheyas5000,Licchhvis7707membersplausibly
progeniesofthefoundermemberswhowere
probablyRaja.
7.Jataka:thereweretwice84,000noblesatVaishali.
8.SmallCitylikeNyasahad30Councilors.

23. Role of Assembly
1.To look after general issues of the State
2.To see Social, economic and religious system
3.It controlled foreign affairs
4.Entertained foreign Ambassadors
5.Handle the issue of Peace and War
Examples:
a.150 Ambassadors Kshudrkasto Alexzander
b.Ambashthaselected three brave military leaders to
fight against Alexzander

24. Procedure of Assembly
1.Themembersoftheassemblyframedlaws
2.Discussionwascarriedoutallimportantmatters
3.Decisiononissueswasmadebyamajorityvote.
4.Iftherewasnounanimityofopinionandelectedthe
membersoftheexecutive.
5.Then,probablybyopenorsecretballot.

25. Assembly Hall
•AtAssemblyHallvariousissueofstatewerediscussed
•Politicalissues
•Religiousissues
•Socialissues
•Economicissues
•Assemblydividedbyvariousparties
•DecisionwastakenbyPresidents
•Example:
a)Lichchhavis:invitedBuddhaforopeningofnewAssemblyHall
b)MallaofKushinagar:DiscussthefuneralofBuddha.
•InbigrepublicslikeLicchavisandAmbashthadecisionwastakenonopinionofeldersnotbyvote.

26. Executive Council
•AccordingtosomewriterstherewasanExecutivecouncil/Committeetodeal,importantissues.
•Tomaintainsecrecy
•Likewarandpeace
•Treaty
•Warfareplansand
•Foreignpolicy
•SecretService
•Treasury
•Justice
•PoliceandRevenue

27. Executive Council
•Membersvariesaspersizeandtraditions
•SmallMallarepublichad4members
•Lichchhavishad9members(AssemblyMembers7707)
•Videhahad18members
•Patanjali:Panchakah(5),Dasakah(10)andvimsakah
(20)
•Mahavagga:fivedifferentkindofSanghawith
executivehadfour,five,ten,twentyetc.members.

28. Qualifications of members of
Executive Council:
i.ExecutivemustcapabletoguidetheState
ii.Theyshouldbewell-versedinwarfareactivity
iii.Capableenoughtoguideastateinemergency
iv.Energeticinaction
v.FirminResolutions
vi.Wellgroundedinthelaws,customsandtradition
ofthecountry.
vii.Latertimesmembersseemshereditary

29. Members of the Executive Council
•ThemembersoftheAssemblymayelectedthe
membersoftheExecutiveCouncil,
•TheylikemodernCommander-in-Chiefoftheforces,
•TheTreasurer,etc.
•membersofExecutiveCouncilwereconsultedinall
importantmattersofthestatesuchasthatofpeace
andwar.
•ThemembersoftheExecutiveCouncilwerecalled
Rajanaand
•TheheadofExecutiveCouncilwassometimesgiven
thetitleofRaja(King).

30. Rules of Procedure
•ABuddhistchapterrequiredaquorumof20.
•Similarrulemayprevailedinpoliticalassemblyof
Republics
•TheSanghmukhya(President)oftheassembly
•Hewasinitiatedandpresideddebateofparties
•Heshouldbestrictandneutral
•InBuddhistSanghamotionwasthriceproposedand
passed.
•Incaseofdifferenceofopinionsvotingwasdone

31. Voting Rights
•InBuddhistsanghavotingwasdonebysecretmethod
(gulhaka)
•Sometimesbywhisperingmethod(sakarnajapakam)
•Sometime,openmethod(vivatakam)
•Votingticketswerevariouscolour
•ApersoncalledSalaka-grahkacollectedthem
•Subsequently,ticketswerecountedbythePresident
•Probablysimilarprocesswasfollowedbyrepublics

32. The Sakyas of Kapilavastu
•ThiswasanimportantrepublicanstateofancientIndia.
•ItwassituatedneartheborderofNepalintheTerairegionoftheHimalayas.
•MahatmaBuddhabelongedtothefamilyoftheSakyas.
•TherepublicanstateoftheSakyashadafederalconstitution.
•ItsheadwaselectedandwasgiventhetitleofKing.
•EverySakyaadultparticipatedinitsadministrationandallimportantmattersweredecidedbytheassemblyofall.
•Attendanceofafixednumberofmemberswasnecessarytocompletethequorum.
•TheSakyarepublichadeightythousandfamilieslivingwithinitsterritoriesandhadseveralcitiesaswell.

37. The Lichchavisof Vaisali:
•ItconsideredfirstRepublicoftheWorld.
•Itwasthelargestandthemostpowerfulrepublicanstateofthattime.
•VaisaliwasthecapitaloftheLichchhavis,
•Whereinlivednearly42,000familiesandwasabeautifulandprosperouscity.
•TheheadofthestatewaselectedandwastitledKing.
•Ithadanother7,707Rajanswhowere,probably,thechiefofficersoftheirterritories.
•ItwassuchapowerfulstatethatAjatasatru,theruleroftheMagadha,hadtomakemilitaryanddiplomaticpreparationsforyearsbeforehecouldsucceedinannexingit.
•And that, too, could be achieved when his diplomacy succeeded in dividing the Lichchhavis.

42. Ideal Republic
•According to the Shantiparv:
1.Adults shall be properly educated
2.Youth were taught proper manners
3.They must follows the path of virtue
4.Experiences statemen should be valor
5.They should given proper administrative posts
6.They shall be responsible for delicate and secrecy issues
7.Spies and ambassadors were selected with great care
8.Attention must paid for growth for economy of the state.
9.Ensure the prosperity of the state and the people.

43. Republic Administrations
Republic
Central
Assembly
Deals with the
general issues
Large number
of members
Voting was
done on important issue
Executive
Council
Deals with the
Delicate issues
Elders
considerations
Limited
numbers
Smaller or
Bigger

44. End of Republics
•Internalweaknesses
•Mutualconflictsin-between
•RisingpowerofMagadha
•SurroundedbyPowerfulMonarch
•AtlastweredestroyedbytheimperialGuptas

45. Conclusion
•Eachoftherepublicdrewtheirnamefromthenameof
itsrulingfamily.
•Theygenerallypermittedallrespectablecitizensin
administrationandframingoflaws.
•Republicangenerallyfollowedthebroadpatternof
elections.
•Cities,villagesprobablyhadtheirownautonomous
systemofgovernance.
•EvidenceofoneoftheoldestrepublicsoftheWorld.