Consider the following statements regarding the political assemblies of the Early Vedic period:
1. The Sabha was a select council of elders and elites, whereas the Samiti was a folk assembly open to all ordinary tribe members.
2. Women were completely barred from participating in these assemblies during the Early Vedic phase.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is correct; Sabha and Samiti were democratic tribal councils controlling the chief. Statement 2 is incorrect because during the Early Vedic phase, women held a high status and actively participated in the deliberations of both the Sabha and another assembly called Vidatha, a right they lost later.

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