Which of the statements is are correct regarding the role of 39 Gramini 39 in preMauryan times 1 He ...........

Ancient and Medival History Pre Mauryan Period

Which of the statements is/are correct regarding the role of 'Gramini ' in preMauryan times?

1. He was head of rural administration.

2. He assessed and collected taxes from the villagers.

3. He was responsible for maintaining law and order in their locality.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 only

1, 2 and 3

The rural administration was in the hands of the village headmen. Initially the headmen functioned as leaders of the tribal regiments, and were therefore called gramini which means the leader of the grama or a tribal military unit. As life became sedentary and plough cultivation well-established, tribal contingents settled down to agriculture. The gramini was therefore transformed into a village headman in pre-Maurya times. Hence statement 1 is correct.
?The village headmen were known by a variety of titles such as gramabhojaka, gramini or gramika. The title gramini prevails in Sri Lanka to this day. Eighty-six thousand gramikas are said to have been summoned by Bimbisara. The number may be conventional, but it shows that the village headmen enjoyed considerable importance and had direct links with the kings.
The village headmen assessed and collected taxes from the villagers and also maintained law and order in their locality. Sometimes oppressive headmen were taken to task by the villagers. Hence statement 2 and 3 are correct.