Discuss state and sovereignty in medieval India
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the state in Medieval India was a theocracy. The king was both Caesar as well as Pope. But, his authority was restricted by the principles of Shariat. His rule was based on religion and the Ulemas predominated the State.
In view of the two conflicting views offered by the scholars regarding the nature of the state in Medieval India, it becomes imperative to examine this issue more thoroughly. First of all, we must try to find out what is meant by theocracy. Only then we will be able to arrive at some conclusion regarding the nature of state in Medieval India.
In lineage society during the mid-first millennium BC, the basic unit was family under the control of the senior most male member. The head person exercised his authority over the clans through kinship and rituals. The families were tied together because of the genealogical relationships. The kin connections and wealth led to differentiations between the ruler and the ruled in the society. The state system emerged because of the population growth, shift from pastoral to peasant economy, socio-cultural heterogeneity and various other factors. Romila Thaper in her seminal work on social formation (History and Beyond, collection of essays) says extensive trade, the fall of political elite and democratic process resulted in the shift towards state system. With the formation of state, the issue of governance became a major concern of the society. In Mahabharata, there is reference to Matsyanyaya, a condition in which small fishes become prey to big fishes. It happens in a society where there is no authority. To avoid such a crisis, people agreed to have a set of laws and they selected a person to become the ruler or appealed to the God for a king who will maintain law and order in the society. There are thus references to both Divine Origin of Kingship and Social Contract Theory of Kingship. Various studies however, suggest that the polity emerged as an independent domain. Monarchy was the dominant form of government in the early Indian polity. As mentioned in theShanti Parva of the Mahabharata, there were seven constituents of the State.
In view of the two conflicting views offered by the scholars regarding the nature of the state in Medieval India, it becomes imperative to examine this issue more thoroughly. First of all, we must try to find out what is meant by theocracy. Only then we will be able to arrive at some conclusion regarding the nature of state in Medieval India.
In lineage society during the mid-first millennium BC, the basic unit was family under the control of the senior most male member. The head person exercised his authority over the clans through kinship and rituals. The families were tied together because of the genealogical relationships. The kin connections and wealth led to differentiations between the ruler and the ruled in the society. The state system emerged because of the population growth, shift from pastoral to peasant economy, socio-cultural heterogeneity and various other factors. Romila Thaper in her seminal work on social formation (History and Beyond, collection of essays) says extensive trade, the fall of political elite and democratic process resulted in the shift towards state system. With the formation of state, the issue of governance became a major concern of the society. In Mahabharata, there is reference to Matsyanyaya, a condition in which small fishes become prey to big fishes. It happens in a society where there is no authority. To avoid such a crisis, people agreed to have a set of laws and they selected a person to become the ruler or appealed to the God for a king who will maintain law and order in the society. There are thus references to both Divine Origin of Kingship and Social Contract Theory of Kingship. Various studies however, suggest that the polity emerged as an independent domain. Monarchy was the dominant form of government in the early Indian polity. As mentioned in theShanti Parva of the Mahabharata, there were seven constituents of the State.
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people were ready to set a law
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