Indigenous Confict Resolution Mechanism: Study of Lohorung Rai Community

Abstract

In Nepal, there has been attempt to uncover huge number of indigenous communities through academic gates, yet the numbers are not sufficient. There are more hidden mysteries than anyone can think of, given the geographical area of Nepal. The diversity in cultures and ritual application has made each group different with one another. Under the given premise, this study focused on conflict resolution practices by Lohorung Rai community. The main focus of research was to understand the procedure of conflict resolution within Lohorung Rai of Nepal. With only two literatures on Lohorung and silent about conflict resolution as of today made the task even more difficult. This confirmed that non of the primitive mechanisms exists today. The task was set with following some of the key literatures within the area of conflict resolution, culture and other social context. As perceived, it was hard to differentiate the path of inquiry. The inquiry into the research question following qualitative method adopting phenemenological approach proved supportive yet challanging. The data were collected through observation and interview and collecting stories, myths, songs, jokes, narratives and all other forms of orally transmitting ideas. Deep inquiry were done with the older generation people to evaluate the collected materials. The oral informations proved to be stock of valuable informations explaining how things were done in the past. With the informations obtained, it was clear that Lohorung people had understood conflict and conflict resolution in much better ways than one can imagine. In their own way of understanding, Lohorung community divided conflict into three structures: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal and Intergroup. The division of conflict as such was based on the parties attached to the conflict. In the same way they had already defined different mechanisms to address the problems. Use of techniques like “Sheer Uthaune” is still taken as a means to address intra-personal conflict as of today. For interpersonal and intergroup conflict, approach similar to mediations were used. But, in primitive sense, those issue addressing sessions meant more than just resolving conflict. The act of resolving conflict amongst Lohorung resembles near to that of modernday mediation practice. However, it differs in many scenario as option to resolution and reaching the consensus were less, they had to adopt either complete settelment through compensation or through friendship (meet laune) or through pardoning the person or party or even through punishments. The process of resoultion done by Lohorung community cannot be easily explained by modernday theoritical approach, specially in intrapersonal conflict.It’s role is not to narrate wrong doings but also restoring communal bond and faith within each other. It implies rituals and other platforms to aware people about the consequences and difficulties associated with it. Also, social activities were added advantage to ensure proper community participation for other actions as well. The use of rituals as platform to perform and culture to carry it to next generation was solid approach to transmit the knowledge. Yet, with difficulty in knowledge transfer due to modernization and migration, Lohorung have managed to reel off their knowledge through greater participation. The value that Lohorung Rai people within the cultural activities have is much more than what the outcome shows. The way they solve their problem by themselves and vlaue their system is complex yet can be a source for modern techniques of conflict resolution.