PM Modi highlighted to an almost 1,100-year-old inscription discovered in Uthirameur, Tamil Nadu, that discusses local body regulations, including procedures for dismissing a member.
What exactly are the Uthiramerur inscriptions?
- The Uthiramerur inscriptions are a collection of ancient Tamil inscriptions discovered in Uthiramerur, a town in Tamil Nadu’s Kanchipuram region.
- These inscriptions were created during the time of the Chola dynasty, which ruled over a wide portion of South India in the 10th century CE.
- It was created during the reign of Parantaka Chola I. (907 – 956 AD.)
What does the inscription say?
The temple inscriptions of Uthiramerur provide historical descriptions of rural self-governance.
(1) Sabha and Ur
- Gram Sabha and Ur were the two village assemblies in Uthiramerur.
- The Sabha was a Brahmin-only assembly, but the Ur included individuals from all classes.
- Sabha oversaw property sales, established an endowment fund for dredging a tank, and delegated management of desolate land to the Ur.
- Sabha gathered in the hall of the local temple after being summoned by the banging of drums.
- Variyars, the executive officers who report to the Sabha, were mentioned in the inscriptions.
(2) Administrative System
- During the reign of Chola king Parantaka I, executive functions were delegated to committees known as Variyams. (907–955).
- Depending on the importance of its tasks, each variyam had 6 to 12 members.
- The first inscription (dating from 919 CE) outlined the procedures for selecting committee members.
- The second inscription (dating from 921 CE) described certain changes to these regulations in order to make them more practical.
(3) Committees and Qualifications
- The village had 30 kudumbus or wards, from which the members of various Committees were appointed on an annual basis.
- The inscription specifies the conditions for a candidate, which include owning tax-paying land, residing on self-owned land, being between the ages of 35 and 70, knowing mantras and the Brahmanas, and not being linked with particular offences or activities.
- Candidates were chosen using the Kudavoloi (pot of palm leaf tickets) procedure.
- A committee member served for 360 days.
- Anyone found to be in violation of the law was promptly dismissed from the office.
(4) Punishments
- According to the Uthiramerur inscriptions, parading on a donkey was a penalty for crimes such as incest, adultery, robbery, and fraud.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Uttaramerur-model-of-democracy/article16566830.ece