Women participated in the assemblies.
Explanation
The Vajji confederacy was a prominent Mahajanapada located north of the Ganga in present-day Bihar. Unlike the monarchical states, it was governed as a Gana or Sangha (oligarchic republic), where power was shared by a group of rulers rather than a single king.Option Analysis:
- It was a Gana or Sangha. is Correct: Vajji was a confederacy of eight clans (atthakula), including the Lichchhavis, Vajjis, Videhas, and Jnatrikas. It operated as a Gana or Sangha, where decisions were made collectively through assemblies.
- Its capital was Vaishali. is Correct: The capital of the Vajji confederacy was Vaishali. It served as the administrative headquarters for the Lichchhavi clan and the confederacy as a whole.
- Women participated in the assemblies. is Incorrect: Participation in the assemblies of the Ganas was restricted. Women, slaves (dasas), and agricultural labourers (kammakaras) were explicitly excluded from these assemblies. Only the men of the ruling clans (often titled Rajas) were allowed to participate in discussions and voting.
- Buddha and Mahavira were associated with such Sanghas. is Correct: Both Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira were closely associated with the republican tradition. The Buddha belonged to the Sakya Gana, and Mahavira belonged to the Jnatrika clan, which was a constituent of the Vajji confederacy. Much of the information about these states comes from Buddhist texts like the Digha Nikaya.
Key Takeaway: While Ganasanghas like Vajji exhibited early forms of democratic deliberation, their political structure was exclusive; women and the working classes were strictly barred from the decision-making assemblies.