Imperial Cholas were the most powerful Kingdom of Tamilakam lasting from 9th to 13th century and the first south Indian kingdom to extend its influence right upto southeast Asia. The politico admnistrative system of imperial cholas was characterized by the co-existence of centralization and de-centralization. The Chola kings maintained a balance between the control of king on local administration and the autonomy of local bodies.
Chola Administration:
Administrative divisions - Rajam --> 8 Mandalams --> districts called Kottams or Valanadus --> Nadus --> Assemblies or Varium called Ur, Mahasabha, Nagaram.
-> The head of the Mandala was mainly a member of royal family.
-> Olainayak was the chief secretary of the king.
-> Nadu- Term means assembly of the locality. it was the main administrative center with important revenue rights. It was managed by Nattar. They even donated land to temples. Subbarayalu estimates their number as 140 in Cholamandalam area.
-> Ur was the asembly of tax paying citizens open to all male members of all families.
-> Mahasabha was assembly of brahmins which included those owning Brahmadeya lands
-> Nagaram was assembly of merchants and traders for promotion of trade.
Local representation
From Uttaramerur inscription during reign of Parantaka I
-> Nadu or Ur- The local govt could have developed in pre-Chola times due to settlement of agri communities bound by economic and kinship ties. The villages were made of Vellalas and non-brahmans hence called Vellanvagai. Nadu also collected taxes and levies at local level and maintained infrastructure. Headed by Nadalvar.
-> Sabha- made of land owning Brahmins who were scholarly and we'll learned. They formed Variyams or committees to look over various aspects of admin. Various Variyams existed for looking after gardens, fields, gold allays, etc. The Samvatsara Variyam was an annual committee of more experienced elders. The election happened by the system of lots. Conditions included property, 40 years and knowledge in Shastras. No one allowed consecutive terms. The Sabha had right to levy taxes collected through Tanduvan or collector. It also had judicial functions called Dharmasana.
-> Uttaramerur inscription details- the election used to proceed by lots every year. The eligibility was 35-70 years, own property of 1/4th Veli or 1.5 acres, knowledge of Vedas or one Veda and a Bhashya. No criminal record, no stolen property, no failure to submit accounts of earlier posts. Democracy and Local Self Govt Various aspects of democracy and local government are-
-> Elections- From Uttaramerur. held at Ur and Sabha level. Qualifications, age, criminal record, all people of village voted, etc. The Sabhas functioned in Variyams or committees. Thus, people chose their own representatives.
-> Financial Autonomy- The Ur and Sabha had taxation rights. They could levy tolls and levies along with collection of tax for the monarch. Probably, the villages got some share of it too. The Nagarams levied taxes on shops and market places. A 13th century inscription at Mannargudi talks of burden of levies on farmers. The Sabha met the leading people of locality and decided on the issue.
-> Operational Autonomy- the Ur and Sabha had authority to construct roads, bridges, irrigation tanks and even maintain them. All small level works were done at village level itself. The Sabha managed the religious activities of the temples. Thus, operational freedom existed.
-> Judicial autonomy- Even though the royal court or Dharnasana existed, the petty disputes seem to have been solved at Ur and Sabha level itself.
-> Control over community resources- In spite of land grants, communal landholding was common. The common pastures, forests and lakes were controlled by the Ur and Sabha.
However,
-> There are no references of decisions by voting or quorums.
-> The modern definition of democrwcy of by, for and of people doesnt apply due to overarching influence of monarchy. The assemblies were bound by the will of the monarchy.
-> Concept of separate elecrorates was seen in case of Sabhas.
-> It is only in case of electing local representatives that limited democracy exercised, it did not go to the Nadu or Kottam level.
-> Very few examples of women being active in public life- An epigraph from Shikarpur talk talks of wife of a district headman succeeding him after his death.
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