Social Scientist Monthly Journal of the Indian School of Social Sciences VOLUME 4 OCTOBER NUMBER 3 1975 CONTENTS M G S Narayanan 3 Historical Perspectives on Ancient India Roger Bartra 12 Peasants and Political Power in Mexico Sourin Bhattacharya 35 India's First Irrigation Company NOTE Subbhas Bhattacharya 56 Indigo Planters, Ram Mohan Roy and the Charter Act of1833 BOOK REVIEWS R P 66 Science and Philosophy in the Soviet Union Mohan Thampi 76 The Politics of Literature Articles, note and book reviews express the views of the authors and not necessarily of the editors or of the Indian School of Social Sciences.