A Study of Decentralized Rural Governance Practices during the Chola Period

Abstract

This study examines the structure, functioning, and significance of decentralized rural governance practices during the Chola period (c. ninth to thirteenth centuries CE), highlighting their relevance in the history of local self-government in South India. Drawing upon epigraphical evidence, inscriptions, and secondary historical analyses, the paper explores how village assemblies such as the sabha, ur, and nagaram operated as autonomous institutions managing local administration. These bodies exercised authority over land revenue collection, irrigation management, temple administration, dispute resolution, and welfare activities, demonstrating a high degree of participatory governance. Special attention is given to the kudavolai system, an early electoral mechanism that emphasised eligibility criteria, rotation of office, and accountability, reflecting sophisticated administrative norms. The study argues that Chola rural governance was characterised by decentralisation, collective decision-making, and legal accountability, supported by clearly defined rules and procedures recorded in inscriptions. While these institutions functioned within the overarching authority of the Chola state, they retained substantial autonomy in everyday governance. By analysing these practices, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of indigenous administrative traditions and challenges the notion that decentralised governance is a modern innovation. The findings underline the Chola system’s historical importance as a model of effective rural self-governance rooted in social responsibility and institutional continuity.