Early republics

A republic is a form of government where the head of state is elected, not a hereditary king or queen. So nobody gets the top job just by being born into it.

Remember the chapter 'New Beginnings: Cities and States'? At least two mahājanapadas worked like this.

In Vajji (Vṛiji), the Lichchhavi clan made decisions together, and leaders were chosen for their ability, not their birth. Key posts were filled by elections, and representatives of different clans met regularly to solve problems for the people's welfare. That's why such states are called early republics.

Even when kings or queens ruled, the voice of ordinary people was valued in India.

Here's proof carved in stone: the Uttaramerur inscriptions, from the Chola period (10th century CE) in Tamil Nadu. They describe how members of the village sabhā (local council) were elected:

• who could stand (their qualifications)
• the election process, with sealed ballot boxes (a secret vote!)
• the members' duties
• when a member could be removed: anyone found corrupt was thrown out at once

That's a complete election system, written on a temple wall a thousand years ago!

Other parts of the world had republics too. In the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, Rome and Greece had them. But in some Greek regions only free men could vote, not women, workers or slaves; elsewhere only a small privileged group decided. Early republics everywhere left most people out, which is what universal adult franchise later fixed.