ABSTRACT
The concept of local government is relatively modern, although some of its components did exist in ancient and mediaeval ages in all countries because of political, administrative, socio-economic or geographic necessities. The concept of self-government as used in Hind Swaraj has a dual meaning in Gandhian philosophy. The quality of government is as important as the quality of service because local democracy contributes directly to the health of the national polity. It is relevant to look into the Gandhian and Ambedkarian perspectives and their disputes or arguments related to local self-government. It is important to realize that with the kind of socio-economic power structure prevailing in Indian society, it may not necessarily make the representative participation into mass participation. Decentralization has to be preceded by a series of measures like land reforms, reduction in the concentration of income, wealth and economic power and removal of social inequality.
