TRADITIONAL JUSTICE IN A MODERN WORLD: A STUDY OF THE ABBELAH SYSTEM AMONGST THE IDU MISHMIS

Abstract

This study examines the Abbelah system of the Idu Mishmi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh as a traditional mechanism of justice, deeply rooted in their social and spiritual life. It functions as a community-based arbitration, which is more than just a means of resolving disputes, as it embodies the values of harmony, reciprocity and restoration. By adopting the qualitative methods of participant observation and in-depth interviews, the research explores how the arbitration process operates through dialogues and collective consent, rather than relying on codified or written law. The ethnographic insights were therefore gained through conversations with elders, mediators, and some younger members of the community. The study explores the various aspects of Abbelah, from its historical origin, spiritual foundations, to structural dynamics. This paper highlights how this institution, once functioning as the sacred restorative system, has undergone transformation under the influence of the state judicial system, modern education, and monetisation, and has shifted away from its essence as a reconciliation process. It highlights how, being a mediator was once a sacred duty, guided by visions and rituals, has been reduced to a normal job, motivated by monetary consideration. Although in decline due to such changes and transformations, it continues to persist in rural areas as the living expression of legal pluralism. Such persistence, along with various modifications, reflects the adaptation of indigenous institutions in a modern world dominated by the modern legal order.