With reference to the eligibility criteria for becoming the member of a 'Sabha' as laid down in the Uttaramerur inscription, consider the following statements : 1. The candidate should have his own house and his own plot of land. 2. The candidate should be within 60 years of age and above 30 years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, 1 only. The inscription asks that a member own land and a house, but it sets the age limit at 35 to 70 years, not 30 to 60.
The Uttaramerur inscriptions of the Chola king Parantaka I (early tenth century) describe how the sabha, the assembly of a Brahmin village in present-day Tamil Nadu, chose the members of its committees. A candidate had to own tax-paying land of at least a quarter veli, live in a house built on his own site, be between 35 and 70 years of age, and know the Vedas and their use. Names were written on palm leaves, put in a pot and drawn by a young boy, the kudavolai system.
B is wrong because the age band in the inscription is 35 to 70 years. C is wrong for the same reason: statement 2 does not match the record. D is wrong because statement 1, owning land and a house, is exactly what the inscription demands.
Exam tip: Uttaramerur, Parantaka I, kudavolai lottery, members aged 35 to 70 owning land and a house.
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