GENDER IMPLICATIONS OF TRIBAL CUSTOMARY LAW: The Case of North-East India

This book has to be read against the backdrop of renewed calls from many tribes for strengthening the customary law regime among the tribal communities of North-East India. The papers in it examine the changing status of women in the interface of the customary law with the forces of modernisation. The papers outline the distinct origin, practice and prevalence of the tribal customary law and describe the role played by women in moulding lives, guiding families and building societies.
The articles in the book represent the tribal communities of the Seven Sisters of North-East India and look into the changing role of women in the arena of education, economy, religion and politics. While capturing the stories of women at the grassroots, they do not hesitate to pinpoint the lacunae of the customary law system in addressing the new issues that have arisen due to the rapid changes taking place because of the inroads made by the market forces.
Most importantly, the articles point out the in-built limitations of the customary law that deny legitimate rights to women in inheriting property, accessing maintenance rights in case of divorce and participation in the political bodies of the village and state at large. It is hoped that the contending issues raised in the book will encourage further reflection and work for the emergence of a society in which women enjoy their rightful place.

Contributors
N.K. Das
Lucy Zehol
Tejoswita Saikia
Asok Kumar Ray
Dolly Kikon
Ranga Ranjan Das
Shaunna Rodrigues
Sujata Hati Baruah
James Selvaraj
Sunumi Changmi
Wanglit Mongchan
Brajen Bhattacharyya
Teresa L. Khawzawl
Jyotishman Taye
Pinky Barua
H. Kamkhenthang
P.M. Passah
M. Sasikumar
S. Hayong
Lalneihzovi
Toli Achumi
Limatula Longkumer
Thoshusie Katiry
Papri Debbarma

Melvil Pereira is Director at North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati, and is a member of Assam State Backward Class Commission. He has specialised in the tribal customary law of North-East India. Having researched on ethnic conflicts, he has co-authored Land Relations and Ethnic Conflicts: The Case of North Eastern India, and Growing Up in a Conflict Zone: Children Surviving Conflict in Tripura, and a sister-text on Manipur.
Rajendra P. Athparia is a Senior Fellow at North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati. He has earlier worked for the Anthropological Survey of India, eventually becoming the Head of Office of its regional centre in Shillong. He is a member of Juvenile Justice Board, Kamrup (Rural), and the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore.
Sunumi Changmi is currently working at Anthropological Survey of India, Nagpur. She also worked as Research Associate at North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati. Her areas of interests include gender studies, border and migration studies.
Jyotikona Chetia is a Research Associate at North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati. She has done her Master’s in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Her areas of research interest include child rights, gender studies and migration.