AN INTRODUCTION TO
THE STUDY OF TIRUVALLUVAR
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A Lecture by Prof.Avvai Duraisami Pillai
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Part – 43
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It must be remembered in this conection that most of the powers of the monarch were so decentralised that villages enjoyed a kind of political autonomy. These villages were grouped as Nadu (நாடு) on the basis of self-sufficiency.
நாடு என்ப நாடா வளத்தன நாடல்ல
நாட வளம் தரும் நாடு (55)
and the administration was carried on by assemblies of elders and learned men. Any how, in the days of Thiruvalluvar, Governments could not be stable and so every monarch was very keenly interested in the defence of the country by building and protecting forts and fortresses and strengthening the military service-National wealth of the country was freely allowed to grow and nationalisation of the sources of income was never dreamt of. As the monarchs were engaged in governing the civil life, the administration of justice and defence, people enjoyed freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom of movement; trade, commerce and industry were thriving independently in the hands of the public. But the kings were keenly watching the acquisition of wealth; instructions regulating the ways and means of earning wealth were issued, so that no deviation from the paths of virtue took place. Unclaimed properties, tolls and customs duties, tributes paid by the sub-ordinate and subdued kings and chieftains were added to the exchequer besides the regular land mountain and forest ‘ revenues from the people.
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