Local Bodies in Mediaeval South India is a sequel to my work "Local self-government in Mediaeval Karnataka." While reviewing the earlier work, Dr. T.V. Mahalingam had said that I should have compared Karnataka local bodies with local bodies in the rest of South India. This is exactly what has been done in the present work. The working of local bodies in mediaeval Karnataka is compared here with the working of similar bodies in Tamilnadu, Andhrapradesh and Kerala, where such material is available. In chapter 1, I have dealt with the composition of the local assemblies, their officers and their duties, their meetings, the methods of summoning them and their methods of work. Chapter II deals with the working of the guilds-in particular, with the guild known as the Ayyavole 500. Its origin in Aihole of Karnataka and its prototypes in Tamilnadu, Andhrapradesh, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia are then described. The last chapter is devoted to a consideration of large territorial assemblies know as Mahanadu, Chitralmeli Mahanadu and Nadu and Nagara.
Some contributions, which this work makes are the following:
Both representation and election were known in the mediaeval period. With regard to procedure, the method of consensus was followed both in electing officers and in passing resolutions. In fact, this method of consensus may be considered to be India's contribution to procedure in assemblies everywhere. As regards merchant guilds, the work answers some critical questions which are raised in the latest work on the subject edited by Noborru Karashima. In the last chapter, on large territorial assemblies, it adds a few more examples of such assemblies which have been noted by the only writer on the subject viz. Sri K.V Subramanya Aiyer.
The publication of this work would not have been possible but for the interest shown by Sri. K.R. Ramakrishna, Director of Archaeology and Museums, Karnataka State and his colleagues. All that I can do is to thank the Directorate of Archaelogy and Museums for publishing this book.
There is one other scholar, whom I cannot but mention. He is Dr. Y. Subbarayalu, Professor of Epigraphy, Tamil University, Thanjavoor, Tamilnadu. He went through the manuscript and suggested certain changes. More than that, he sent me his publications and those of others, which I would not have got, but for his generousity. It is rare to come across scholars of this type. I thank him wholeheartedly.
My friend and neighbour Dr. S.H.Ritti brought to me books from his library the moment I expressed a wish to have them Dr. A. Sundara has always helped me, whenever there was a need. Sri R. K. Hegde has done a neat DTP job. Last but not least, my wife Smt. Tara Dikshit has ungrudgingly taken care of my health. To all these, my sincere thanks are due.
This work is dedicated to the memory of Dr. H.R. Raghunath Bhat - a Scholar among Gentlemen and a Gentleman among Scholars.
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