Consider the following statements regarding the famous Uttiramerur inscriptions of the Chola period: 1. They provide detailed information about the constitution, qualifications, and disqualifications for members contesting elections to village administrative committees. 2. The inscriptions mention the use of a ballot system known as Kudavolai for electing members to various variyams. Which of the statements given above are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Both statements are correct as the Uttiramerur inscriptions issued during the reigns of Parantaka I and Rajendra I offer invaluable documentation of early grassroots democratic processes in medieval Tamil Nadu. The Kudavolai system involved writing candidates' names on palm leaf slips, placing them in a pot, and drawing them out by a young child to select committee members. Strict moral, educational, and age qualifications were mandated for contestants. These epigraphs remain a cornerstone for studying Chola local governance.