Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 9: […] In the system of democracy, such thieves and rogues naturally collect money from other thieves and rogues, and thus there is chaos in every government, and no one is happy. But here the example of good government is to be found in the reign of Lord Ramacandra. Full Chapter
BY: STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Nov 27, 2011 — ALIGARH, INDIA (SIFY) — Aligarh Muslim University historian S. Chandni Bi, who has specialised in epigraphy, the study of inscriptions, says around 1,000 years ago there was zero tolerance towards financial bungling. According to him, inscriptions in the southern state of Tamil Nadu clearly indicate how intolerant civil society was against corrupt practices and the violators of ethical framework.
Chandni told IANS in an interview: “A well evolved democratic system was functional, starting at the Saba level, between the 8th and the 16th century in South India, irrespective of the ruling dynasties: the Cheras, Cholas, Pallavas, Pandyas and Vijaynagar.
The members of a Saba were elected by the whole community of the village by a system peculiarly known as ‘Kuda Olai’ system (kudam-pot and olai-palm leaf). The village was divided into wards called kudumbus, and every ward had to write the eligible person’s names on the palm leaves. The bundle of palm leaves was emptied in a pot. The member was chosen by draw of lots.”
The most important point to note here was the issuance of strict guidelines by the rulers, inscriptions which give fair indication of the clarity of thought and zero tolerance towards financial bungling.
“Among the inscriptions three are very important, which belong to the 10th century A.D. Two inscriptions are found in Vaykundanatha Perumal temple at Uttramerur, Kanchipuram district and another one is from Pallipakkam village of Tanjore in Tamil Nadu state belonging to the rule of Parantaka Chola I”, Chandni explains.
“The crimes committed by the members of the Saba are divided into three categories. The swindling of funds or public property and those who failed to submit their accounts have been considered as crime number two. Such members were not eligible to contest the Saba election for life long. Not only they but their relatives too could not contest elections, like children, in-laws, brothers and their children, grand-parents, grand-children, relations through wife etc., nearly for three generations. They were called grama dhurogis.
While murder of even Brahmins was considered pardonable, crimes like cheating or swindling public funds were unpardonable, even by gods. Political crime was not pardonable but other crimes could be punished with penalties or performance of penance and charitable deeds, to become eligible for elections again.”
There were established codes of conduct laid down for the Saba members as found in an inscription from Mannur village of Tirunelveli district. Among them, the most interesting one relates to obstructing the political processes or functioning of the Saba deliberately. In such cases a penalty of five kasu (rupees) was imposed for every such act of mis-conduct, on such members. Yet they were permitted to stay and participate in the proceedings of the Saba. Generally, the Kings’ orders were executed by passing in the Saba.
To prevent political power getting concentrated in one family leading to dynastic tendencies, rules were framed. “According to this rule, the present members of the Saba cannot contest the election for next 2 to 10 years. In the same way none of their relatives should have contested for the past five years if one wanted to contest for membership of Saba. There is also a sub rule to provide equal opportunity for everybody stipulating induction of two new members without any previous experience as members of the Saba.”
Read the complete article here.
Speak Your Mind