Category: GovernancePart of speech: nounDifficulty: IntermediateRecommended for ★ UPSC
जनतन्त्र
/janatantra/Roman
English meaning: Democracy
Definition
A system of governance in which power is vested in the people (jana = people, tantra = system). Ancient India had forms of republican governance (Mahajanapadas) like the Vajji Confederacy (6th century BCE), which are considered precursors to modern democracy.
Example
“जनतन्त्रे जनाः राज्यं शासन्ति।”
In English: “In democracy, the people govern the state.”
Literary Heritage
“प्रजासुखे सुखं राज्ञः, प्रजानां च हिते हितम्।”
/Prajāsukhe sukhaṃ rājñaḥ, prajānāṃ ca hite hitam./
“The king's happiness lies in his subjects' happiness and welfare.”
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Language information
- Language
- संस्कृतम्
- Sanskrit
- Script
- Devanagari
- Family
- Indo-Aryan
- Speakers
- 5M