Political History Of Ancient India

SR No.: 032292
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemchandra Raychaudhari
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1950
Total Pages: 714
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 544

TRIBAL REPUBLICS
· 515 and the references to Mahāmātras, " Rajjukas, 2 and Samcharaṁtaka or Sañchārin 3 spies, indicate that the official machinery of the Maurya period had not ceased to function at least in Southern India.
But we must not suppose that the entire administrative structure of the period was a replica of the Maurya constitution. The foreign conquerors of North-Western India brought with them several institutions which had been prevalent for ages in the countries through which they passed. Thus the Persian system of government by Satraps was introduced in several provinces of Northern, Western and Southern India, and officials with the Greek titles of Meridarch* (probably District Officer) and Strategos(general or governor) ruled contemporaneously with functionaries having the Indian designation of Amātya (minister or civil officer in charge of a district) and Mahāsenāpati (great general or military governor ).
The tide of Scythian invasion could not sweep away the tribal republics which continued to flourish as in the days of Buddha and Alexander. Inscriptions and coins testify to the existence of many such communities, 5 and like the Lichchhavis and śākyas of old, the most powerful among them were found very often ranged against their aggressive royal neighbours who were now mostly Scythian. Unfortunately, the contemporary records do not throw much light
1 Lüders' Ins., Nos. 937. 1144. Note the employment of a Sramana as Mahāmātra (High Officer) by a śātavāhana ruler.
2 Ins. Nos. 416, 1195. The Rajjukas were Surveyors and Judges in the country parts.
3 Ins.. No. 1200 ; cf IA, 5, 52, 155.
4 A Meridarkha Theüdora is mentioned in a Swāt Kharoshthi epigraph. Another Meridarkha is mentioned in a Taxila Kharoshthi inscription. The two meridarchs are mentioned as establishing Buddhist relics and sanctuaries (Corpus, II. i.xv).
5 E.g., the Mālavas (Mālayas), Yaudheyas, Arjunāyanas and possibly the the Audumbaras, Kulūtas, Kunindas (see Camb, Hist., 528, 529), and Uttamabhadras. Cf. Smith, Catalogue of Coins, Sec. VII.