Uttiramerur's Kudavolai System: India's 1,000-Year-Old Democracy Model
Prime Minister Modi's reference to the Uttiramerur inscriptions has revived interest in the Chola-era Kudavolai democracy, where leaders were elected by pick of lots. Historian Dr Nandita Krishna and Tamil scholar Dr Balaji explain how names on palm leaves were drawn from a pot, how strict eligibility rules ensured accountability, and why these inscriptions read like an ancient Election Commission handbook. They argue India has long been a practising democracy, with elected locals managing villages even as kings ruled vast kingdoms.
