Purogati

The Sauvastika, an ancient symbol for Purogati. Its use has become controversial due to similarities with the Nazi swastika/hooked cross.

Purogati (Hindi/Sanskrit for "Progress"), sometimes referred to as Neo-Purogati, is a Mel-akkan political ideology, inspired by the social model created by the ancient leader Pujari Nayaku, considered the founder of Mel-akkam. Often characterised as a non-revolutionary form of socialism with specific Mel-akkam characteristics, Purogati (in its various forms) has long influenced Mel-akkan politics and government. In the modern day, the Progressive Party is regarded as the main political advocate for Purogati, while other parties, such as the Originalist Progressive Party and Coalition of Independents support Purogati to some extent.

Origins

The original ideology on which Purogati is ostensibly based, as conceived of by Pujari Nayaku, was not known as such; "purogati" is a neologism coined by the late independence activist and collaborationist leader Maina Kathina, based on a Sanskrit Hindi word that is a cognate of "progress". In fact, most historians contend that there never was a specific word for the ideology during Nayaku's life, while after his death, his ideas were typically called the Vyavasthea Kukkutarma ("Mohenjo-daro system"). The Vyavasthea Kukkutarma was a unique governance system among the societies of the Bronze Age in that it promoted a much more egalitarian socio-economic outlook, with wealth discrepancies being practically nonexistent. In terms of material culture, this manifested in the form of identical dwellings, the absence of elaborate burials or displays of wealth, and even a complete lack of value placed upon non-utilitarian precious metals, except in the context of international trade. While the exact characteristics of the original Vyavasthea Kukkutarma are unknown, having changed greatly by the time written records began to emerge, most historians surmise that it was based on an intricate system of non-hierarchical and somewhat democratic clan affiliation and mutual support, a loose credit system involving the use of seals, a highly organised, meticulously-planned public works projects, and a number of arbitrating bodies backed by religious and gerontocratic authority. By the Middle Ages, when extensive written records first emerged, this system had changed substantially, with the increased prominence of secular elected and appointed officials displacing both the clans and religious elders, although both remained as ceremonial institutions. Nonetheless, this system, sometimes known as "Medieval Purogati", maintained an emphasis on economic egalitarianism and public works, which greatly intensified as the nation underwent a process akin to industrialisation. However, the conquest and subjugation of Mel-akkam by the Mughal Empire brought this period of development to an abrupt end, and the Vyavasthea Kukkutarma was largely eliminated.