The first known republic in the world is often associated with ancient Vaishali in India. Which clan is credited with establishing this early republican system at Vaishali?

Introduction / Context:
Ancient Vaishali, located in present day Bihar, is frequently described in history books as the seat of one of the earliest known republics in the world. Rather than a monarchy ruled by a single king, Vaishali was governed by a form of republican or oligarchic system. Understanding which clan played a central role in this early republican experiment is important for grasping the political diversity of ancient India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question focuses on Vaishali in the 6th century BC period.
• It asks which group established the first known republic there.
• The options include royal dynasties such as the Mauryas, Nandas, Guptas, and the Lichhavi (Licchavi) clan.
• We assume basic awareness of mahajanapadas and early republican traditions in the Gangetic plain.

Concept / Approach:
Vaishali was the capital of the Vajji confederacy, a group of clans that practised a form of republican governance. Among these clans, the Lichhavis (also spelled Licchavis) were particularly prominent. They operated through assemblies and councils rather than autocratic kingship. Later dynasties like the Mauryas, Nandas, and Guptas followed monarchical forms of rule and are not connected with the foundation of the Vaishali republic. Therefore, the clan credited with establishing this early republic is the Lichhavi clan.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Vaishali as the seat of the Vajji confederacy in 6th century BC India. Step 2: Recall that the political system there is described as a gana-sangha or republican oligarchy rather than a monarchy. Step 3: Recognise that the Lichhavi (Licchavi) clan was a leading component of this confederacy and is often highlighted in Buddhist and Jain texts. Step 4: Note that the Maurya, Nanda, and Gupta dynasties are later imperial monarchies and did not found Vaishali's republican system. Step 5: Conclude that the Lichhavi (Licchavi) clan established the early republic at Vaishali.

Verification / Alternative check:
Ancient Buddhist texts such as the Mahaparinibbana Sutta and Jain sources refer to the Vajji confederacy and the Lichhavis as practising a republican form of government with assemblies and elected representatives. Modern historians use these sources to support the statement that Vaishali under the Lichhavis is one of the oldest known republics in the world. No comparable evidence ties the Mauryas, Nandas, or Guptas to this republican foundation at Vaishali.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Maurya clan: The Mauryas, beginning with Chandragupta Maurya, ruled from Pataliputra under a strong central monarchy, not a republic at Vaishali.
• Nanda dynasty: The Nandas were powerful Magadhan monarchs who ruled before the Mauryas; they did not establish a republic in Vaishali.
• Gupta dynasty: The Guptas ruled much later and are connected with a classical age of Indian culture, not with the early Vaishali republic.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students automatically choose famous dynasties like the Mauryas or Guptas because they are widely known, overlooking smaller but historically significant clans like the Lichhavis. Another pitfall is mixing up Magadha's imperial history with the republican traditions of neighbouring Vajji and Lichhavi polities. To avoid confusion, remember that Vaishali plus republic plus early 6th century BC naturally points to the Lichhavi clan and the Vajji confederacy.

Final Answer:
The first known republic at Vaishali was established by the Lichhavi (Licchavi) clan as part of the Vajji confederacy.