Molsom tribal leaders in Tripura stress the urgency of codification of customary laws to ensure social harmony and cultural resilience.
The Molsom tribe, one of Tripura’s smaller but culturally rich indigenous communities, has once again urged the state government to expedite the process of codifying its customary law, a move seen as crucial for preserving their heritage and ensuring self-governance within the community.
According to senior leaders of the Molsom tribe, the proposed codification of customary law has been pending state approval for several years. After the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) approved the draft bill in 2020, it was forwarded to the state government for necessary legal review. The final step would involve sending the bill to the Governor for his assent, but the community continues to await progress.
“Customary law is more than a set of traditional practices. It embodies our heritage, our values, and our way of viewing the world. Codifying it is essential for maintaining cultural identity and for protecting our traditions from erosion,” said one of the prominent Molsom community heads. He stressed that with formal recognition, the tribe would be able to regulate and conduct itself according to its traditional system—something that larger indigenous communities in Tripura, such as the Tripuris and Reangs, already enjoy.
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A Long-Standing Demand
In an effort to formalize their legal framework, the Molsom tribe earlier constituted a State-Level Customary Law Advisory Committee, composed of elders, scholars, and community representatives. After careful consultation and consensus, the committee prepared a detailed draft of the Molsom Customary Law and submitted it to the TTAADC. The council, in turn, had approved the proposal in 2020 and forwarded it to the state government.
Despite the passage of nearly four years, there has been little movement. Frustrated but hopeful, Molsom leaders have renewed their appeal to the state government to prioritize their request.
“The elders of our community have advocated for codification for decades. Like all other major tribes, the Molsom community deserves the right to self-regulate in ways that are familiar to us and promote social harmony,” another community elder said.
Importance of Customary Law
For indigenous communities like the Molsoms, customary law serves as a vital social institution. Unlike formal state laws, which are often seen as distant and disconnected from tribal realities, customary laws are deeply rooted in the social fabric and cultural memory of the people.
Community members argue that customary law promotes unity, fraternity, and collective responsibility, leading to fewer conflicts and greater social cohesion. “Such laws are familiar to the community, leading to voluntary compliance. When disputes do arise, they are usually settled quickly and peacefully through traditional councils,” a community representative explained.
Experts on tribal governance also point out that customary law systems are crucial for empowering indigenous communities and enabling forms of self-governance that align with their cultural practices. Formal recognition of these laws strengthens community resilience and can serve as a model for participatory governance.
Background: Tripura’s Indigenous Communities and Customary Laws
Tripura is home to 19 indigenous communities, many of whom have their own rich traditions of self-governance and customary legal systems. The creation of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution was aimed at protecting the rights, customs, and governance structures of these communities.
Major tribes like the Tripuris, Reangs, Jamatias, and Chakmas have had their customary laws codified or recognized in some form. The Molsoms, though smaller in number, share an equally rich cultural legacy and have been striving for similar recognition to protect their identity in the face of rapid socio-economic changes.
Traditionally, Molsom society is organized around village councils (known locally as ‘rajas’), where elders mediate disputes, enforce social norms, and ensure communal welfare based on time-honored customs. Codifying these practices into a formal legal document would help institutionalize them for future generations.
The Road Ahead
Molsom leaders have reiterated their readiness to cooperate fully with the government to finalize the pending approval. They have expressed optimism that the state will recognize the urgency of preserving indigenous governance systems, especially at a time when global attention is increasingly focused on indigenous rights and cultural preservation.
As the community awaits a decision, the broader message remains clear: for the Molsoms, customary law is not just about conflict resolution; it is about identity, dignity, and survival
