MOTHER OF DEMOCRACY INDIA  (NATIONAL BOOK TRUST,INDIA, INDIAN COUNCIL OF RESEARCH)

The essence of ancient Indian political theory and practices of governance revolved around the uniquely Bhartiya concept of Dharma. This enjoined people to nurture the values of compassion, ethics and non-violence. Political power was viewed as a trust, a commitment. India's ancient traditions of governance attested to commitment to those principles, which gave it a unique standing among world civilizations. The States in ancient India were far less centralised than the other contemporary world civilizations.