In Referring to Elections under the Cholas, PM Modi invoked a Historical Truth

On 27 July 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the ancient temple town of Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Tamil Nadu, asserted that Indian democracy predates the Magna Carta.

Indian Democracy: An Ancient Legacy

• The Magna Carta, an English document from 1215, served to limit the absolute power of the King and granted rights to the people, marking a significant step towards democracy in Europe. 
• However, credible evidence suggests that democracy in India existed in various forms as early as the fifth century BCE. 
• In small communities, villages, and tribal societies across ancient India, participation in decision-making through discussions was a standard practice.
• Kautilya, in his Arthashastra, elaborated on the role of ‘samghas’ or local unions, indicating how a state operates more efficiently when managed through such decentralised local bodies. 
  • This ancient concept of local self-governance, much like today’s Panchayati Raj, underscores the deep roots of democratic principles in India.

The Chola Era: A Blueprint for Modern Democracy

• Uthiramerur Inscription: Tangible evidence of this ancient democratic system is powerfully demonstrated by the Chola dynasty’s electoral practices, particularly in the village of Uthiramerur in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu. 
  • Around 920 AD, during the reign of Parantaka Chola, an inscription in the Vaikuntaperumal Temple in Uthiramerur provides astonishingly detailed information. 
  • This inscription, which resembles a constitution, outlines:
    • The constitution of wards.
    • The qualification of candidates standing for elections.
    • Disqualification norms.
    • The mode of election.
    • The constitution of committees with elected members and their functions.
    • The power to remove wrongdoers. 
    • The villagers possessed the right to recall their elected representatives if they failed to perform their duty. 
    • These were not merely consultative bodies but genuine self-governing village republics, electing representatives through a system uncannily reminiscent of modern democratic principles.
• The Kudavolai System:  The electoral process used in Uthiramerur was called the ‘Kudavolai’ system, or the “ballot pot” system. This system ensured both transparency and neutrality:
  • The names of eligible candidates were inscribed on palm leaves and placed into an earthen pot.
  • A young, impartial boy—untouched by local politics—was chosen to publicly draw a slip from the pot.
  • The selected members served for fixed one-year terms, after which a new election was held using the same system.
• Rigorous Standards for Public Life:  The Chola system was remarkable for its comprehensive model code of conduct that governed who could contest, how they could be removed, and what moral standards were expected.
• Candidate Qualifications: To stand for election, a candidate had to be between 35 and 70 years of age. 
  • They must have owned tax-paying land with a house built on it, and be well-versed in sacred texts or administrative procedures.
• Disqualifications: Strict norms were in place to purify public life. Individuals were automatically disqualified if they had:
  • Defaulted on debts.
  • Consumed alcohol.
  • Committed moral transgressions.
  • Failed to present accounts from an earlier office. 
  • Even close relatives of such disqualified individuals were ineligible to stand for election.
• Accountability and Removal: Anyone found guilty of embezzlement or dereliction of duty was not only removed from office but also barred from re-election, sometimes for up to seven generations. 

Conclusion

At a moment when democracies worldwide face pressures from authoritarianism, money power, disinformation, and shrinking civic space, it is vital to remember that India’s democracy is not a borrowed robe. 

• It is firmly rooted in its own traditions of collective decision-making, grounded in values of ethics, equity, and participation. 
• As the custodian of the world’s largest electoral exercise, the Election Commission of India must draw confidence not only from contemporary legal frameworks but also from our own rich history.