________________ Homage to Vaisali instarof, a relation of Shivaji took a dispute of his direct to that king. The latter onquired, Should I send your case to your village Pancayat or to an adjoining village Pancayat or to a Tebsil Pancayat ?' It is interesting to note that he neither proposed to decide the case himself nor directed any of his Government officers to do so. HIGH STANDARD OF INTEGRITY The Government and public had high confidence in the integrity and capacity of the village Pancayats in the olden days. Ancient India for a average citizen was noted for its purity and integrity. The Greeks were the political enemies of ancient Indians; yet Megasthenese and Strabo, have paid a high tribute to the Indian character. 'Indians have never been convicted of lying. Truth and virtue they hold in high esteem', says Megasthenese in one place. This statement could obviously not have been literally true, but it shows that the cases of swindling must have been comparatively few. Strabo and Megasthenese both further state, 'Indians are not litigious. Witnesses and seals are not necessary when a man makes a deposit; he acts in trust. Their houses are usually unguarded". How much one wishes that this may be true of modern India. The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang found the majority of contemporary Indians no longer following the gospel of the Buddha; many Buddhist Tirtbas like Vaisali had become deserted admirer of Indians; he says "Indians are of hasty and irresolute temperament, but of pure moral principles. They will not take anything wrongfully and they yield more than fairness requires." How much one wishes that the U.N.O. had noted this impression of the Chinese traveller. Muslim and Italian travellers and traders have paid equally glowing Idrisi, a merchant of the 10th century, states, "The Indians are naturally inclined to justice and never depart from it in their actions. Their good faith, honesty and fidelity to engagements are well known and they are so famous for these qualities that people flock to their country, from every side; bence their county is flourishing." Marco Polo, an Italian merchant of the 13th century, says of the Brahmana traders of Western India, "You must know that these merchants are the best in the world and the most truthful, for they would never tell a lie for anything on the earth." Ibn Batuta, another Arab traveller, pays an equally high tribute to the contemporary Indian character. Can we honestly say that we modern Indians deserve the high praise that has been so unstintedly showerod upon the Indian character ? I am afraid, not.
