द इण्डियन स्ट्रगल / भारतीय स्वाधीनता संग्राम (नेताजी सुभाष चन्द्र बोस - ऐतिहासिक विश्लेषण)

12 THE INDIAN STRUGGLE
This undisturbed continuity is the most significant feature of
Indian history and it incidentally explains the vitality of the
people and of their culture and civilisation. The latest archæo-
'logical excavations at Mohenjodaro and Harappa in North-
Western India prove unmistakably that India had reached a
high level of civilisation as early as 3000 B.C. if not earlier.
This was probably before the Aryan conquest of India. It
is too early to say what light these excavations throw on con-
temporary political history, but since the Aryan conquest of
India, more facts and historical materials are available. In
the earliest Vedic literature there is reference to non-mon-
archical forms of government. Where these existed, tribal
democracy prevailed. In those days, Grāma (or village) was
the smallest and Jana (or tribe) was the highest social and
political organisation among the Vedic communities.¹ In the
later Epic literature, the Mahabharata for example, there is
clear reference to republican forms of government.² There
is also evidence that since the earliest times popular assemblies
used to be held in connection with public administration.
Throughout the Vedic literature one finds reference to two
kinds of assembly—the Sabhā and the Samiti (also called
Samgati or Samgrāma). The ‘Sabhā’ has been interpreted
to mean the advisory council of the selected few, while
‘Samiti’ has been interpreted as a gathering of the entire
community. The ‘Samiti’ met on important occasions like
royal coronations, times of war or national calamity, etc.³
In the next stage of political development one notices a
distinct tendency towards the growth of monarchical power
following the expansion of Aryan influence and domination
in India. At this time there would be frequent wars between
the independent states flourishing in Northern India, with a
view to obtaining supremacy. The issue of these wars would
be not political annexation but acceptance of the overlordship
of the victor by the vanquished parties. The victorious king
¹ Development of Hindu Polity and Political Theories by Narayan Chandra
Bandyopadhyaya, p. 60, published by Chuckerverty Chatterjee & Co. Ltd.
15 College Square, Calcutta.
² K. P. Jayaswal, Republics in the Mahabharata, (J. O. and B. Res. Soc.
Vol. 1. pp. 173-8.)
³ Development of Hindu Polity and Political Theories by Narayan
Chandra Banyopadhyaya, pp. 115-118.