Question

Can the republics of ancient India be represented as democratic States?​

Answer 1

The republics of ancient India cannot be represented as democratic states for the following reasons.

• Republican governments were present in India before the times of the famous Athenian and Roman Republics.
• The most famous of them was the Vajiian Confederacy led by the Lichchavis of Vaishali.
• Like almost all republics of the era, they were not democracies. Every citizen did not have the right to vote, only the rich and the landed classes were allowed to take part in decision-making.
• These ancient republics were more akin to oligarchies than modern democratic states.
• Usually, power was concentrated in the hands of the wealthy elite.
• These states had democratic features but were really democratic states.
• Thus, the republics of ancient India cannot be represented as democratic states for the following reasons.

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