Administrative Structure and Local Governance in Chola Village Communities

Abstract

This study examines the administrative structure and local governance mechanisms of Chola village communities, highlighting the sophisticated and decentralized system that underpinned the stability and prosperity of the Chola Empire. It explores the functioning of key village institutions such as the ur, sabha, and nagaram, which collectively managed land, revenue, irrigation, public works, and judicial responsibilities with remarkable autonomy. Drawing primarily from epigraphic evidence, particularly the Uttiramerur inscriptions, the study analyzes committee-based administration, the kudavolai method of selection, and the structured fiscal and judicial practices that governed rural life. It also investigates the interplay between local assemblies, Brahmanical influence, merchant guilds, and the central state. By evaluating the administrative efficiency and participatory nature of Chola village governance, the study underscores its historical significance and its enduring impact on later South Indian polities and contemporary models of decentralized governance, including modern panchayati raj institutions.