Chapter 121: Law, Order and Religion part-2
Rewari Kingdom, Inner palace of Bawal, evening of 7th March 1557.
Aditya, seated beside Crown Prince Randeep in the front row, stood up and gave the prince a reassuring pat on the shoulder. As he made his way to the stage, the room fell silent, every eye turning to him.
He bowed respectfully to King Todar Mal before addressing the assembly. "Your Majesty," he began, "the answer lies before us. In my view, we should consider allowing the people to participate in governance and alleviate the burden on the monarchy. Let them choose their own leaders who can voice their concerns, ensuring they do not feel alienated and that such situations can be avoided."
The suggestion was met with immediate scrutiny. The room’s tension was palpable as delegates exchanged uneasy glances.
Ministers and other courtiers stood up and bombarded him with back to back questions, "Prince Aditya, could you clarify what you mean by involving local people in governance?"
"Does this include tax collection and other administrative duties?"
"We already have the sarpanch system in place to address local issues. How would your proposal improve upon this?"
Aditya responded thoughtfully, "While the sarpanch system has its merits, it is often based on hereditary positions rather than true representation. A sarpanch chosen by birth might not necessarily represent the true voice of the people.
By allowing the people to elect their leaders, we can ensure that those in power truly reflect the will and needs of the local population, thereby enhancing governance and accountability"
The response triggered a wave of protests amongst the courtiers.
Acharya(title of brahman priest) Sukhdev Agnihotri in attire of head priest, stood with a stern expression, "With all due respect, Prince Aditya, your proposal challenges our traditions. Our shastras describe society as a body: the Brahmins as the head, Kshatriyas like yourself as the hands, Vaishyas like merchants as the stomach, and Shudras like peasants as the legs.
Each class has its designated role, and altering this structure could undermine our traditions and lead to inefficiency in governance."