By: BARNABAS MASHANGVA
This study explores the convergence of traditional governance and economic practices among the Tangkhul Naga community in Manipur, focusing on legal pluralism, indigenous political economy, and cultural ecology. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, oral histories, and secondary sources, it investigates how customary institutions – such as clan-based councils, village chiefs, and communal labour systems – continue to shape resource management, land tenure, and livelihoods. Despite pressures from urbanisation, market expansion, and state-led development, these traditional systems remain robust, adapting to new circumstances while preserving core cultural values. The analysis demonstrates how overlapping legal systems, ecological knowledge, and economic strategies interact in complex and negotiated ways, reflecting both continuity and change. By examining how the Tangkhul community navigates tensions between indigenous norms and modern economic frameworks, the study contributes to broader discussions on legal pluralism, sustainable development, and the resilience of indigenous governance in rapidly changing socio-economic contexts.
