Constitutional Features of the Ancient Indian Republics

Democracy has not been the exclusive monopoly of the west. Oriental democracy has its roots in the common life of the people. Sovereignty has always been shared by local bodies and communal groups. India can also be described as a political federation with a very large share of local autonomy in village communities, communal assemblies, guilds and village unions. India has had an unbroken record of group institutions, which have been practically self-sufficient and self-governing. The central government has rarely interfered with the local democracies. While they were strong for themselves, contended with their free inner life and freedom, they could not do much for the organization of the country at large as it was too vast for any confederation of small states to govern and organize. A flood of light has been thrown oh the different facets of ancient Indian polity and the republican system of government was one of them. An attempt has been made in the following book to survey the history and institutions of ancient Indian republics from earliest times to the sixth centuryAD. Essential constitutional features of the ancient Indian republics form the theme of discussion. The book deals with the Types of States flourishing in ancient India, Political History of the Republics, the Constitutional Features of these Republics, their Decline and democratic traditions existing within the framework of monarchy.