Neethi Vyavastha – The Political System of Bharat
Bharat had 6 Chakravarthy (Emporer), 56 Maharajas (Big Kings), 108 Rajas (Kings) and 365 Kshetrapals (Shatraps,/Savanth/Samant/Palegar) and then Pattadhar, Mandaleshs, Pattabhajs, Praharakas and Asthagrahin down up to village Shanbogh, Mukhiya.
What was the political system that existed in Bharat before the so called Democracy was introduced? Is it true (like some people describe it) that small kingdoms would fight with each other and the citizens would suffer? Was it a Single Monarch like in Great Britain and many other countries of Europe? How was it different if at all it was?
There was never a single political power centre till 320 BC in Bharat. It was Chanakya who put one Chakravarthy Chandragupta Maurya. Till that time Bharat had a very robust Political system based on Neethi Shasrtas. It was something like the following; Bharat had 6 Chakravarthy (Emporer), 56 Maharajas (Big Kings), 108 Rajas (Kings) and 365 Kshetrapals (Shatraps,/Savanth/Samant/Palegar) and then Pattadhar, Mandaleshs, Pattabhajs, Praharakas and Asthagrahin down up to village Shanbogh, Mukhiya.
Did these people collaborate with each other? What were the administrative powers of each of them? What was the system of taxes? How were the taxes utilised? In this 6 hours’ workshop the participants understand this and go through a journey of Political Bharat.
Gram Panchayat/Gram Sabha
The Gram Panchayath or Gram Sabha was a selected body of five people who were not selected by Math (vote) and Bahu Math (higest vote polled). But these people were selected by all the people selecting them by (Sarva Sammathi) This was the uniqueness of Bharathiya Jan Aadesh (Democracy).
The Gram Panchayath or Gram Sabha was a selected body of five people who were not selected by vote and highest votes polled (Bahu Math). But these people were selected by all the people selecting them unanimously (Sarva Sammathi). This was the uniqueness of Bharathiya Democracy (Jan Aadesh). Out of the five selected people one would be the Shanbogh (Village head).
If anything new had to be adopted into the village these five people would discuss and then they would invite a Spiritual Head attached to that village and the senior most Artisan of that area and then the seven of them would have a detailed discussions and later decide if that thing can be adopted in the village or not. In many cases if the “Raja Agjna” (The King’s Order) was not in favour of the village as a whole the Gram Sabha/Gram Panchayat would sit along with the above mentioned two extra people and the whole village would gather. The decision would be taken only after an open house with the people was done. More about this beautiful system of decentralised political power which existed in Bharat will be discussed in the 3hrs workshop.
Nagar Sabha the city council
There is a usage in many villages that “Those who are condemned go to towns and cities and those who are blessed live in villages.” There is an interesting thing to note the Shanbog of a village was considered higher in position than a Nagaradhyksha of the Nagara Sabha (Chairman of the city/town council).
“Natya pradhanam nagaram darriddhram; Naatinpuram nanmakkalaal samrridham” this is a verse written by a 4th century poet from Kerala. This actually meant that “People living in the towns and cities will live in eternal poverty as they have a very “Dramatic” lifestyle, but people living in the villages by virtue of their innocence and naturalness lived a very abundant life”. There is a usage in many villages that “Those who are condemned go to towns and cities and those who are blessed live in villages.” These usages and verses show that it was discouraged to live in the cities and towns. The cities and towns had their own selected Nagara Sabha Sadasyas (Also called as Pura Sabha Sadasya or Paura) depending up on the population of the city/town.
These were once again representatives who were selected in their respective localities/communities of the city/town and selected unanimously (Sarva Sammathi). But the Nagaradhyaksha/Puradhyaksha Town/City Council Chairman was appointed by the Raja. He would report to the Samant/Palegar of the area. There is an interesting thing to note the Shanbog of a village was considered higher in position than a Nagaradhyksha (Chairman of the city/town council). This was so as the Nagaradhyaksa was usually a political (Raja’s man) appointment and the Shanbog was a unanimously elected head. The Nagara Sabha had administrative power restricting to the wellbeing of the city/town. The Nagara Sabha didn’t have any judiciary powers like the Gram Panchayat; whereas the Gram Sabha had both Administrative and Judiciary powers. More about the Nagara Sabha and how they were functioning will be dealt with in the 3hrs workshop.
Introduction to Neethi Shastras
The Neethi Shastras have two distinct parts one is the Political portion, which deals with the Raja, Mantri and other political affairs; the second Non-Political portion deals with the Praja, Artha, Naithikta, Shilpa and other social and religious laws.
Neethi Shastras are actually the text books on Civil Studies and Political Science. They also contain Morals and Ethics along with Social Etiquette and Arts and crafts. The Neethi Shastras as a comprehensive codebooks lays out guidelines in both political and non-political aspects required in maintaining social order in the state.
The political part of the Neethi Shastras deals with guidelines relating to a Raja (King), Mantri Parishad (the council of ministers), Danda Neethi (the justice system), and Antharashtiya Niyama (international laws); whereas, the non-political part deals with Naithikta (ethics and morals), Samajika Artha Vyavastha (socio-economy), Shilpa (architecture), Samajika Niyama (other social laws), and Dharma Niyamas (dharmic laws). These laws are elaborately enshrined into variouis chapters in the Neethi Shastras.
How many Neethi Shastras are there? What was the political structure of Bharat? How did the political structure effect the life of a person in this country? Who was to report to whom? A brief understanding of Shukra Neethi, Ravan Neethi, Vidhur Neethi, Bheeshma Neethi, Chanakya Neethi and many more texts on Civil Studies and Political Science. This 3hrs workshop introduces us into this world.
