2.  The tribal state of the Rig Vedic Period assumed a
territorial character in the later period.
 This was because of shift from pastoral community ->
settled agrarian society
 This led to development of a strong central authority

3.  Vedic power structure was that of a pro-state.
 Democratic pattern of tribe was lost in transition from
tribe to monarchy.
 Still some tribal states existed side by side
 These governed by bodies called oligarchies or
Republic.

4.  Vedic literature indicates existence of such tribes at a
very early date
 Tribes and clans organised on the basis of blood
relations
 Members of the group retained their independence
and local governing authority
 Owed allegiance to chiefs belonging to a certain family

5. These organisations got sub-divided into:
 Gana
 Vrata
 Shardha
 Visah

6.  Sangha and Gana find a mention in Ashtadhyayi of
Panini.
 These democratic institutions date back to 6th century
BC
 Sangha=association, assembly, company or community
with a common goal or vision
 Gana=flock, troop, multitude number, tribe, class

7.  A monarch + a deliberative assembly
 Assembly met regularly
 Had financial, administrative and judicial authority
 Monarch -elected by Gana
-belonged to Kshatriya Varna
-consulted the whole assembly or
a counsel of nobles for administrative
work

8.  Buddhist Scriptures mention existence of republics in
foothills of Himalayas and Northern Bihar
 Republics were a tributary of greater kingdoms.
 Exersised internal authority and autonomy
 Example- the tribe of Sakhyas (to which Buddha
belonged)

9.  Organisation of Buddhist clergy modeled on
the constitution of the republic tribe of Sakhyas
 Buddhist monastic affairs managed by a general
meeting of monks
 Administrative and judicial business carried out in a
public assembly in the Santhagara

10.  Most powerful non-monastic state at this time was the
Vrijjian confedracy-the most important tribe was of
Licchavis.
 Had 7700 rajas to govern the kingdom
 Rajas were heads of families of the tribe, eligible for
taking part in the assembly

11.  Jaina sources talk of an inner council of 36 tribal
chieftains controlling affairs of Licchavis, Mallas and
the allied tribes
 Whole confederation had a raja-in-chief:
-an executive
-Held office for life
-Passed on his position to his heir

12.  Buddha seemed to attach great importance to old
republican organisation.
 He is said to have warned Vrijjis that their security
depended on maintaining the traditions and holding
regular and well attended folk moots

13.  In course of time, the republics could not face the
-internal pressure of changing socio-economic
conditions
-external pressures of rising kingdoms of
Eastern India

14.  Western India wasn’t impacted by these changes
much, and the republics survived for much longer.
 The Greek writers and generals who accompanied
Alexander to India, have mentioned about such
republics.
 According to the account of Megasthenes, a major
portion of Punjab and Sindh practised such form of
government.

15.  Arthashastra also talks about different forms of
Government in the 4th century BC
 Mahabharata also attests the presence of republics in
Western India
 The inscriptions mention the chief of the tribemahasenapati
 Section 107 of the Shantiparva also gives an insight of
the republican states and condition of their welfare

16.  Many republics like Yaudheyas, Malavas, Arjunayanas
& Sibis.
 They ruled independently and issued their own coins.

17.  But Samudra Gupta struck down the republican
system.
 Most of the western tribes became a tributary to the
Guptas after Samudra Gupta’s conquest.
 After the Huna invasions, it is believed that the tribes
completely vanished.

18.  Even though India, in its past, did not have democracies
of modern sense, ‘government by discussion’ was not
unknown in its ancient civilisations.