Uthiramerur: Birth place of Democracy about 1,000 years ago

Five major Indian states have headed to elections from February 10 to March 10. Various political parties have fielded candidates largely based on "caste" and "influence", which have been the tradition since the Independence. But about 1,000 years ago the story was different.

Let us travel to Uthiramerur, about 90 kms from Chennai, which believed given birth to democracy about 1,000 years ago.

The small temple town is located on  the National Highway-45, connects Chennai to the Southern parts of Tamil Nadu.  A  tough-to-take right turn stretches into a straight road that leads to this busy small town market.The 25k-ms road to this runs in the middle of dry agricultural lands on both the side and some time few industrial establishments and  education institutions.

There are three famous temples in Uthiramerur – The Sundara Varadaraja Perumal temple dedicated to lord vishnu, the Subramanya temple -  a  temple for lord Muruga and the Kailasanatha temple for Lord Siva.

Uthiramerur not only has a rich history of temples and traditions but also democracy. 1100 years ago, when democracy was perhaps unheard of,  this town had an election system just like what India has now and  talking about (including recalling of the elected members).

Less than, half a kilometers away towards the East from the Sundara Varadaraja Perumal temple is a big assembly hall-currently the  Vaikunta Perumal Koil – signifying the abode of Lord Vishnu. it is has  a fascinating history.

There is a huge Pond in front of the Sundara Varadaraja Perumal temple. There are about ten traditional houses around this pond. One  of the houses belongs to 82-yr old Srinivasan and one to Sridhar whose  family has been in Uthiramerur for many decades now. The two have many interesting stories to tell about how democracy originated from that very assembly hall.

As legend has It - Paranthaka Chola was ruling this area, though the Pallava king Nandivarman II established it around 750 A.D. It was also  ruled by the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Sambuvarayars, the  Vijayanagara Rayas and the Nayaks.

But during the Parnthaka, this tiny town witnessed some significant changes, which even today discussed across the World.

He had an able set of ministers who felt it may not be advisable to hand the reins of the kingdom to the next in line in the family. The  ministers then devised a system where the people elected their leader.

There is proof of a perfect electoral system and a written Constitution prescribing the mode of elections in the forms of  inscription on the walls of the village assembly hall (grama sabha mandapa), which is a rectangular structure made of granite slabs.

“This inscription, dated to 920 A.D. in the reign of Parantaka Chola, of the Chola empire is an outstanding document in the history of  India,” says a representative from ASI in the site.

The inscription gives astonishing details about the constitution of wards, the qualification of candidates standing for elections, the  disqualification norms, the mode of election, the constitution of  committees with elected members, the functions of the committees, the power to remove the wrong-doer.

Kolatunga Chozha, in the 11th Century AD, is said to have built the Vaikunta Perumal Koil on top of the super structure of the Assembly  Hall, but the inscriptions remain intact on the walls of the temple.

This structure has been recognised as a heritage monument and is currently under the Archeological Survey of India.

“On the walls of the mandapa are inscribed a variety of secular transactions of the village, dealing with administrative, judicial, commercial, agricultural, transportation and irrigation regulations,  as administered by the then village assembly, giving a vivid picture of the efficient administration of the village society in the bygone  ages.”

The villagers even had the right to recall the elected representatives if they failed in their duty!

As per the inscriptions, a huge mud pot (Kudam) would be placed at an important location of the town or village, which will serve as the  ballot box. The voters have to write the name of their desired  candidate on the palm leaf (Panai Olai) and drop it in the pot. The leaves would then be taken out from the pot and counted. Whoever gets  the highest number of votes would be selected as the member of village assembly, notes former MLA Ganesan, while pointing the inscripts.

It is learnt that the entire village, including the infants, had to be present at the village assembly mandapa at Uthiramerur when the  elections were held. Only the sick and those who had gone on a  pilgrimage were exempt. According to the inscriptions, the village was divided into 30 families, one representative elected for these families. Specific qualifications were prescribed for those who wanted to contest. The essential criteria were age limit, possession of immovable property and minimum educational qualification. Those who wanted to be elected should be above 35 years of age and below 70…”

Only those who owned land, that attracted tax, could contest. Another interesting stipulation was that such owners should have possessed a  house built on legally-owned site. A person serving in any of the  committees could not contest again for the next three terms, each term lasting a year.

Elected members, who suffered disqualification, were those who accepted bribes, misappropriated others’ property, committed incest or  acted against public interest. If one has been proved corrupt during his tenure, he, his family members and even his blood relatives cannot  contest elections for next seven generations.

A 10th Century record, which was in the form of inscriptions at this site also  reveals how the fines imposed on the wrong doers of the  village were administered. Those who were fined for wrong deeds were  called “Dhushtargal” (means criminals). The fines were imposed on them by the village assembly and the sitting elected members. The assembly also decides that the said fines imposed should be  collected from the “Dhushtargal” and settled by the village administrators through the assembly, within the same financial year,failing which the assembly would interfere and get the matter settled.

Delayed payment of penalties also had late fees attached to them. Italso clearly states that, even the elected members of village assembly, cannot escape fines or punishment, using their powers. They will be dealt severely if found guilty.

This shows the unique ability of this town, which has a special place in the electoral history. The temple town  remains largely decrepit  and dependent on sugar cane and rice farming, with just a smattering  of industries producing steel,  cement and sugar.

If we want a change, then we need to change our electoral system. The model of Uthiramerur could be replicated so that it wont remain only on the stones, but can be part of our history books and life.

Ends