Ancient Indian Political System

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Political system is a social institution which deals with the governance of a state and its
relationship with the people. Political system of a country denotes the structure of institutions
that constitute the State and its Government. India is no different and it had also developed
government and political institutions to give shape and form to the fundamental principles.
The multiple faces and diversity of the country is the most noticeable feature of the
subcontinent. The identity and unity of its government belong to the ancient Vedic age.
Ancient Indian Political System goes back to about five thousand years or more. India is a
land that has been shaping civilizations through settlement patterns. Thus, history of India
becomes enriched with the description of the Indus Valley civilisation. This civilisation had
municipal cities and a centralized administration prevailed for each city in Harrappa and
Mohenjo-daro. The people formed urban societies with agriculture as an occupation. However,
the invasion by the Aryans had changed the whole scenario. Indian civilisation was again
predominated by the nomadic culture.

A different concept of society in India developed with the Aryans, in the early Vedic period.
The Early Vedic saw the upsurge of kingdom which was tribal in character. Each tribe formed
a separate kingdom. The basic unit of the political organisation was family and a number of
families formed a Village. A reflection ofthe Ancient Indian Political System can be traced in
the social life of the Aryans. These villages were headed by Gramani. Moreover this pattern
gave rise to large units or clans formed by a group of village. The circle continued with several
clans forming the tribe and their leader was Rajan or the Vedic king. He protected his people
from enemies and was accompanied with a senani or commandant, the Sabha and the Samithi
inadministration . The Aryans can be identified as the pioneers in introducing the concept of
society in Indian culture. This civilisation was subjected to various forms of kingdoms with a
flow of political boundaries. In the later Vedic age, the Gangetic Valley or Aryavartha became
the centre of political activity. Various Kingdoms like Kosala, Videha, Kuru, Magadha, Kasi,
Avanti and Panchala came into existence. The king was the highest authority and his position
was considerably supreme. Kingship became hereditary and the he was responsible for
defence and maintaining law and order of their kingdoms. Moreover, they had vast empires
and tried to extend their territories. In Manu Samhita the history of kingship is described. In
Hinduism, Manu is considered to be the first king of the earth. Accordingly, the rulers of
medieval India traced their genealogy back to him.

In Ancient Indian Political System, the king as well as his subjects was bound by `Dharmas`
or rule of law which were code of duties. Though a king, yet he had limited powers. The king
was required to take oath and loyalty of the people. The king was not assigned with arbitrary
powers and he was functional according to the approval of the people. However, on the
contrary ancient Indian polity was monarchial, yet there were a few instances of elective
kingship also. The power of the Indian monarchy prior to Mughal invasion was conceded as
King being the representative of the divine power. The king was then only a constitutional
monarch and the guardian, executor and the servant of Dharma. Besides, monarchies several
republics also evolved. After the Battle of Kurukshetra, large empire began to fade away and
several republican states emerged. A number of sixteen republics such as Kashi, Koshal,
Magadha, Kuru, Anga, Avanti, Gandhar and Vaishali came into being. In the 1st century with
the spread of Christianity, absolute monarchy prevailed as the form ofpolitical system . The
word of the Kings was law. Many large empires were seen extending almost all over the sub
continent. Several empires such as the Muryas, Guptas and the Mughals flourished. The rulers
were hereditary kings or sub kings who ruled with the assistance of faithful ministers
appointed by them.

During the medieval period, King-in-Ministry became the usual form of government. In
addition to that there were no republican states. Furthermore the concept of central
government evolved during the period of the Sultanate. The king became an autocrat and he
was entitled to the throne on the base might. In the Mughal kingdom, Ancient IndianPolitical
System revolved round the autocracy of the king and he was assisted by councilors or
ministers to share the multifarious activities of the state. The council of ministers was given
great power and they continued to advice the kings on their day to day handling
ofadministration . One instance of the absolute monarchy ruling the state on the advice of the
council of ministers was Emperor Harsha, who was a generous ruler.

Village administration was also a significant part of the Ancient Indian Political System.
During the Vedic age, the Aryans had built up small villages and the administration of the area
was looked after by the village councils. A system of giving taxes also prevailed in the ancient
society. Taxes such as Pali, Sulk and Bhaga were collected from the people. The revenue was
spent for the benefit of the subjects. Mentions of villageadministration are found during the
fourth century B.C when republican federation existed in the society of India. The city of
Vaishali had Panchayat for administering justice and courts. The republican character of the
polity of Vaishali lasted for thousand of years.

Panchayat system is one of the essential democratic institutions which developed in India.
This system is an institution of the Local Self Government found at the village level.
Panchayat system originated in ancient India and references are found in the age of
Mahabharat. It constitutes of a village council consisting of village elders. These local self
governments perform administrative and judicial function. The Panchayat system used to
serve since ancient times and at present it has become an integral part of
IndianAdministration. At present Panchayat system is a three tier institution and continues to
administer the villages.

Ancient Indian Political System underwent a change with the coming of the British. The
scenario of administration changed in the subcontinent. The British took over the whole
administration into their own hands. The establishment of East India Company made India a
colony. The regions of India included areas directly administered by the United Kingdom. The
princely states ruled by individual rulers came under the dominion of the British Crown.
British Raj prevailed in the Indian subcontinent, the local self governing bodies were taken
over and Panchayati Raj begun. The political union after 1876 was officially called the Indian
Empire. In the late 19th century, self-government underwent a change in the British India with
the appointment of Indian counselors to advise the British viceroy. The Indian Councils Act of
1892 was passed and Municipal Corporations and District Boards were created for
localadministration. The Government of India Act of 1909 known as the Morley-Minto
Reforms provided limited roles to the Indians in the central and provincial legislatures, known
as legislative councils. Through this Morley-Minto Reforms, the elective principle was
introduced for membership in Indian legislative councils. These elected members gradually
were given the criteria of Opposition to the Official government". TheGovernment of India
Act of 1935 was approved by the British Parliament for the establishment of independent
legislative assemblies in all provinces of British India. This text has further influenced the
development of Constitution of independent India. According to the act bicameral national
parliament and an executive branch under the purview of the British government came to into
force.

The attainment of independence from the British colonial rule made India a sovereign nation.
The constitution came into force on 26th January 1950 and India was made a `sovereign,
socialist, democratic, republic,` with a representative parliamentary system of government. It
can be rightly identified that the present Indian political system has grown out of a long
evolutionary process.