________________ Some Reflections on the Gaps in Vaisali's History 69 abroad. But a strong and independent foreign policy succeeds only when a nation is itself strong and not dependent upon others for its supply of aeroplanes, engines, tanks and cruisers. We have to make considerable leeway in this connection. COUNTRY ABOVE PARTY During the days of the decline of ancient Indian republics, groups and parties were often formed in the Republican Assemblies and they spent their time and energy in bringing each other's downfall and incidentally paviog the way of an outside conqueror. The party defeated in the Assembly would often seek outside help and thus scale the ruin of the state. Modern India which seeks to develop republican traditions and institutions may well carve on the gate of its Parliament the prophecy of the Buddha about the Licchavi Republic. The Republic of the Licchavis, said the Buddha, will prosper as long as the members of their Assembly meet frequently, show reverence to age, experience and ability, transact the state business in concord, and harmony and do not develop selfish partie engaged in eternal wrangling for their narrow and selfish ends. PANCAYATAS, FOUNDATIONS OF REPUBLIC Republican constitutions could function successfully in ancient India because her population used to receive the necessary training in the working of the village Paicayatas. The vast majority of my listeners today may not have much to do with the working of the Union or the State Parlia. ment, but they are daily and intimately connected with the working of the village Pancayatas. If they learn how to make them a success, there is no doubt that the working of the democratic institutions both at Patna and Delhi would be ensured thereby. The village Pancayatas of ancient India were little republics which went on discharging their manifold duties even when monarchies were changing at the centre with great rapidity. They collected the land-revenue for the central Government and used to receive a 10% commission on their collections, which went a long way in meeting the expenses of their manifold nation-building activities. They did this work efficiently and were prepared to meet the odium of selling away the lands of those defaulters, who would not pay their state dues even after 3 years. The village Pancayatas built and maintained the village roads and tanks and every able-bodied villager, whether rich or poor, deemed it an honour and duty to make his own contribution in labour for the work of communal welfare. Administration of justice was mainly a concern of the village Pancayatas If cases were directly taken to the higher authorities over the head of the village Pancayatas, they were sent back to them. For
