A recent study conducted by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), a not-for-profit research organization, sheds light on the self-governing administrative systems that existed in two north Tamil Nadu villages, Kundrathur and Ullavur, before British colonial rule. The research, led by CPS Director Jatinder K. Bajaj, aimed to explore the functioning of India’s polity before British intervention. The study is based on a survey conducted by Thomas Barnard, a British military officer, between 1767 and 1774. Barnard’s survey covered approximately 2,000 locations in the Chengalpattu Jagir, an area the British acquired from the Nawab of Arcot in 1762.
Bajaj explained that the British had compiled a summary of the survey in English, which was preserved at the Tamil Nadu State Archives. This record, along with Tamil palm-leaf inscriptions kept by traditional accountants called ‘Kanakkupillais,’ provided insights into the governance of villages in the region. In addition to these records, the study also examined inscriptions from the Pallava period, including the Kasakudi copperplate, further enriching the research.
One of the key findings of the study is that Indian villages in the pre-British era were self-sufficient, with clear financial, cultural, and political boundaries. These villages were not only financially independent but also culturally and politically self-contained, with a rich history spanning centuries. The study highlighted that Kundrathur alone has 55 inscriptions ranging from the Chola period to the Mughal era, offering a window into the village’s long-standing traditions and governance.
The study also found that the annual foodgrain production in the entire Chengalpattu Jagir was as high as one tonne per capita—five times the current average in India. A detailed analysis revealed how agricultural produce was distributed across various institutions, including allocations for maintaining water bodies and supporting scholars, teachers, musicians, and dancers. These practices reflect the holistic and community-driven governance of the time.
The CPS has published the findings of the study in two separate books, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (INGCA). The study calls on the Union and State governments to gather and compile records such as inscriptions, copper plates, and palm-leaf accounts from villages across India to decolonize the Indian polity and revive the self-governing practices that existed before British colonialism. Additionally, the study recommends revitalizing the water bodies, flower gardens, and temples in Kundrathur and Ullavur, with the goal of restoring their 18th-century heritage and transforming them into vibrant centres of heritage tourism.
(With inputs from The Hindu)
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