Indigenous Confict Resolution Mechanism: Study of Lohorung Rai Community
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies
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.
Description
Keywords
Conflict, Rai community