20 In e sec ions o Fai h and Cul u e: Ame ican Jou nal o Religious and Cul u al S udies www. g njou nal.us
In e sec ions o Fai h and Cul u e: AMERICAN Jou nal o
Religious and Cul u al S udies
Volume 3, Issue 11, 2025 ISSN (E): 2993-2599
T adi ional Socio-Poli ical S uc u e & Ins i u ions o Sel -Go e nance
o Paudi Bhuyan T ibe: An E hnog aphic S udy
D . Sushma Modi
Assis an P o esso , Go e nmen Au onomous College, Rou kela, Odisha
Abs ac : The cu en pape examines he adi ional socio poli ical s uc u e o he Paudi Bhuyan
ibe in Odisha. In ibal communi ies, socio-poli ical ins i u ions a e essen ial o sus aining peace,
o de , and s abili y. Va ious o ms o socio-poli ical l s uc u es can s ill be obse ed a di e en
le els, including bands, ibes, and chie doms. Among he Paudi Bhuyan, hese socio-poli ical
ins i u ions e ec i ely manage socio-cul u al, economic, eligious, and local common p ope y
esou ces. The in oduc ion o he Panchaya i Raj Ins i u ion (PRI) sys em has led o modi ica ions in
he adi ional council's dynamics. O e ime, he ole and s a us o he illage head (P adhan) ha e
diminished wi h he elec ion o wa d membe s, sa panchs and o he PRI membe s. His o ically, his
socio-poli ical ins i u ions has played a i al ole in socializing communi y membe s o uphold a
digni ied exis ence while ensu ing o de and peace wi hin hei locali y.
The ad ancemen o human men al and physical capaci ies spu ed social and cul u al g ow h ha
ul ima ely con ibu ed o he de elopmen o ci iliza ion. Consequen ly, a ious social ins i u ions—
eligious, economic, cul u al, and poli ical—eme ged ac oss di e se cul u es o add ess dis inc human
needs. Signi ican ans o ma ions ha e occu ed wi hin hese ins i u ions o e ime, obse able in bo h
p imi i e and mode n socie ies.
The adi ional socio-poli ical ins i u ions ound in ibal o p imi i e socie ies is a c ucial social
ins i u ion. Socio-poli ical ins i u ions a e cha ac e ized by schola s as he o mal and in o mal
amewo ks, egula ions, and beha io al no ms ha in luence socie y and go e nance. Fo ins ance,
F.H. Giddings desc ibed hem as "o gans ha p ese e he ines elemen s" o socie y, whe eas C.A.
Ellwood e e ed o hem as "es ablished me hods o cohabi a ion ha ha e ecei ed app o al."
Addi ionally, James Hun ing on depic ed hese ins i u ions as "consis en , es eemed pa e ns o
beha io ," while G. B. Ikenbe y iden i ied hem as he "o ganiza ions, ules, ou ines, and p ac ices"
ha delinea e he poli ical en i onmen .
Mo on F ied (1967) de ines "poli ical o ganiza ion" as he pa o social s uc u e in ol ing
indi iduals o g oups ha manage public policy and ela ed ac i i ies, hough his is less applicable in
non-s a e con ex s (Ko ack, 2015). Elman Se ice (1962) iden i ied ou le els o poli ical
o ganiza ion: band, ibe, chie dom, and s a e. S udies show links be ween economic sys ems and
poli ical s uc u es (Ko ack, 2015). Mo gan’s *The League o he I oquois* (1851) is a key wo k in
poli ical e hnog aphy, examining he ela ionship be ween poli ical o ganiza ion, social i uals, and
economics (Vincen , 2002). Hen y Maine analyzed legal e olu ion in ela ion o classical Roman law
and illage communi ies h ough philology.
Socio-poli ical ins i u ions plays an in eg al ole in p ese ing socie al peace and anquili y. Di e en
o ms a e p esen a a ying le els such as bands o ibes; howe e , India's smalles uni o ibal
go e nance exis s a he illage le el while in e - illage associa ions also pe sis oday. A his illage
le el, local dispu es—including in a- illage disag eemen s among amilies along wi h b oade socio-
economic and eligious ma e s—a e add essed by ep esen a i es om hese poli ical o ganiza ions.
21 In e sec ions o Fai h and Cul u e: Ame ican Jou nal o Religious and Cul u al S udies www. g njou nal.us
In e - illage dispu es p ima ily conce ning economic issues like land o ma iage a e esol ed by
councils ep esen ing hei espec i e ibes.
This s udy ocuses on he Paudi Bhuyan ibe loca ed in sunda ga h dis ic . Recognized as one o
Odisha's Pa icula ly Vulne able T ibal G oups (PVTGs), hey p edominan ly inhabi in he Bonai hills
o Sunda ga h alongside Deoga h, Keonjha , and Angul dis ic s. Addi ionally housed in signi ican
numbe s ou side Odisha a e Bhuyans loca ed in Wes Bengal, Assam, Jha khand, and Chha isga h.
The Paudi Bhuyan iden i y hemsel es as "Bhumipu a," meaning sons o he soil o landowne s;
no ably de i ed om Sansk i “Bhumi.”.
Objec i e o he S udy
This s udy seeks o explo e he s uc u e and unc ionali y o he adi ional socio-poli ical ins i u ions
wi hin he Paudi Bhuyan ibe. Addi ionally, i aims o examine ecen ans o ma ions and hei e ec s
on he daily li es o he Bhuyan people.
The speci ic objec i es o his esea ch include:
1. De ailed Examina ion: To ho oughly in es iga e he composi ion o he socio-poli ical ins i u ions,
along wi h he oles and esponsibili ies assigned o membe s o he adi ional council.
2. An h opological Analysis: To analyse how he adi ional socio-poli ical ins i u ions plays a c ucial
ole in managing a ious aspec s o socio-cul u al, economic, and eligious li e among he Paudi
Bhuyan.
3. Explo a ion o Change Fac o s: Finally, his pape will iden i y he ac o s ha ha e led o changes
wi hin he adi ional council and assess hei impac on powe dynamics wi hin he illage,
pa icula ly conce ning he s a us and au ho i y o adi ional leade s
Me hodology
The cu en esea ch o ms a ield s udy conduc ed in he sunda ga h dis ic o Odisha. P ima y da a
was ga he ed u ilizing obse a ion and in e iew echniques. Key in o man s included he P adhan
( illage head), Dakua (messenge ), Dehu y (p ies ), wa d membe s, and elde esiden s om he
chosen illages. Insigh s in o he adi ional s uc u e and unc ions o he poli ical ins i u ion known as
Da ba we e p o ided by bo h he P adhan and he P ies . In e iews helped delinea e oles and
esponsibili ies wi hin his amewo k, while ecen changes we e documen ed h ough discussions
wi h PRI membe s. Addi ionally, a ious mee ings we e a ended by he au ho as an obse e -
pa icipan , engaging di ec ly in decision-making p ocesses. In e iews wi h olde illage membe s
aimed o shed ligh on aspec s o change and i s e ec s on Bhuyan socie y.
Composi ion o Poli ical O ganiza ion
E e y socie y es ablishes a se o ules and egula ions o go e n indi idual beha iou and uphold
social o de . The Bhuyan ibe has i s own adi ional poli ical amewo k aimed a add essing social,
cul u al, economic, and eligious ma e s bo h wi hin and be ween illages. Upon examining he
s uc u e and unc ions o he Bhuyan socio-poli ical ins i u ions, i becomes e iden ha i is ela i ely
simple and minimalis ic. The e a e no o mal w i en laws; ins ead, adi ional no ms a e passed down
o ally h ough gene a ions. In each Bhuyan illage, a headman o chie o e sees local a ai s.
Mee ings con ene a designa ed loca ions wi h he pa icipa ion o elde communi y membe s,
p esided o e by he illage chie . The headman makes inal decisions a e consul ing wi h hese
elde s, which can esul in imposed ines o punishmen s. His o ically, such penal ies equi ed he
o ende o p o ide a communal eas o con ibu e ood i ems like g ains o li es ock—cash ines
we e no u ilised in he pas . This p ac ice is e e ed o as “jhond” in he na i e e minology o he
Bhuyan people. Bo h di ec and indi ec wi nesses a e conside ed when eaching inal judgmen s, and
p ac ices such as oa hs and o deals a e also pa o he Bhuyan sys em o poli ical jus ice.
22 In e sec ions o Fai h and Cul u e: Ame ican Jou nal o Religious and Cul u al S udies www. g njou nal.us
S a us o he P adhan
The P adhan holds a unique iden i y and es eemed posi ion wi hin he illage. As a knowledgeable
au ho i y on egula ions, cus oms, and adi ions, he commands g ea espec om he communi y. In
Bhuyan socie y, he enjoys unpa alleled ecogni ion ac oss poli ical, social, and economic dimensions.
Bo h in pe sonal in e ac ions and communal engagemen s, he occupies a dis inguished ole. The
admi a ion he ecei es om illage s and neighbou ing communi ies is e iden in hei conduc
owa ds him.
Role and Responsibili ies o Dehu y
The leade o he socio-poli ical ins i u ion is e e ed o as he "P adhan," who se es as he
adminis a i e head o he illage. Mee ings a e con ened in a loca ion known as he "Du ba ,"
ypically si ua ed a he cen e o each Bhuyan illage. This enue is an open-ai pla o m wi h no oo ,
whe e signi ican decisions conce ning illage ma e s—such as es i als, con lic esolu ion, and
communal wo ship—a e made. A endance a hese mee ings is es ic ed o he heads o each
household wi hin he illage. The ole o P adhan is inhe i ed h ough amily lineage.
The spi i ual leade o he illage, known as "Dehu y," holds a posi ion ha also ca ies eligious
signi icance. As a p ies , he is expec ed o uphold p inciples o u mos hones y, cleanliness, and pu i y
in bo h ac ions and hough s. Simila o ha o he P adhan, his p ies ly ole is passed down h ough
gene a ions wi hin amilies. To his day, bo h he posi ions o P adhan and Dehu y in Bhuyan socie y
emain he edi a y and ha e no e ol ed o e ime.
Addi ionally, an impo an ole wi hin Bhuyan illages is ha o a messenge , called "dakua" o
"dangua." This posi ion emains illed by an indi idual un il hey a e no longe men ally o physically
capable o pe o ming hei du ies.
Remune a ion o O icials
P io o India's independence, unde he eign o he King, land and esou ce owne ship was no
p i a e. Ag icul u al plo s we e alloca ed based on mu ual ag eemen s among illage s. The en i e
p ope y o he illage was egis e ed unde he P adhan's name. A he conclusion o each yea , axes
(khajana) we e collec ed in he P adhan's name and ans e ed by he dakua o Bhuyan Pa i Sa da ,
who subsequen ly submi ed hem o he King.
In 1960s, Odisha unde wen a Re enue Se lemen a e land e o ms law was enac ed ha g an ed
indi idual owne ship igh s (pa a) o lands cul i a ed o e many yea s. Du ing his pe iod, ex ensi e
ac s o land we e designa ed as jagi in a o o he P adhan. Addi ionally, signi ican po ions o
land we e assigned o illage p ies s o hei wo ship acili ies dedica ed o local dei ies. Resea ch
indica es ha o dina y illage s p e e ed o egis e smalle plo s unde hei names while alloca ing
la ge a eas o he P adhan. This p e e ence coincided wi h a ime when mone a y alue was low,
c ea ing anxie y abou ax paymen s which led o a angemen s known as “Gha kha ki.” The Bhuyans
a e gene ally peace ul indi iduals who sough con en men unde adi ional leade ship.
Consequen ly, jagi lands wi hin Bhuyan illages g adually became egis e ed unde he names o bo h
P adhan and Dehu y. P esen ly, subs an ial a eas emain eco ded in hei names ac oss all Bhuyan
illages. Du ing es i als and i uals, i is cus oma y o p ies s o ecei e new ga men s (naba bas a),
which ypically include a dho i, baniyan, and napkin. In con as , no jagi land has been designa ed o
dakua; howe e , a yea -end du ing he Dinamundia es i al, hey ecei e annual con ibu ions (ba an)
comp ising paddy (20 pai), g ams, ice, and naba bas a (dho i, ganji, gamucha).
S uc u e o Da ba
In each Bhuyan illage, he Da ba , an open-ai space, is cen ally si ua ed. A Bhuyan illage may
comp ise one o mul iple Khillis (bansa) (Mohan y, 2004: 73). This a ea ea u es a cou ya d
designa ed o mee ings whe e communi y membe s con ene o delibe a e on signi ican illage
ma e s; his ga he ing place is e e ed o as "Manda Danda." Posi ioned in one di ec ion o he
cou ya d is he male you h do mi o y known as Mandagha a, while ano he side houses a chemda.
23 In e sec ions o Fai h and Cul u e: Ame ican Jou nal o Religious and Cul u al S udies www. g njou nal.us
Addi ionally, nea by s ands Ko higha , an ea hen emple. Be ween he Manage and Ko higha , a
sac ed pole called "Basuki Khun a" is e ec ed, symbolizing Basuki Ma a ( he emale dei y). The e m
Basuki ansla es o soil in Odia. Se e al illages come oge he o o m a con ede a ion known as a
“Pi ha.” The go e ning body a his le el is e med “Pi ha Panchaya ,” and i s secula leade is
e e ed o as he “Sa da ” (Mohan y, 2004: 75). Fo he San als o Odisha, he e m Da ba deno es
local illage mee ings, while in e - illage councils a e iden i ied as Pi ha—simila o he nomencla u e
used by he Bhuyans o Odisha (Mu mu & Kanha , 2014: 86-87).
Selec ion o Func iona ies wi hin he Poli ical O ganiza ion
The appoin men o o icials occu s du ing he yea ’s inal es i al, e e ed o as “Dhi Bandana.” A
illage-le el assembly is con ened in conjunc ion wi h his e en , also known as “Dinmundia pa ba,”
which akes place in la e Decembe . Du ing his ga he ing, a ho ough discussion o local issues
ensues, allowing all communi y membe s o oice hei g ie ances o conce ns be o e he council.
As p e iously no ed, he posi ions o P adhan and Dehu y a e he edi a y. Consequen ly, nomina ions
a e ypically made om he eldes male membe s o he clan. Gene ally, i is he eldes son who
inhe i s he ole o P adhan o P ies . Should he decline o be deemed un i o du y by he illage s,
nomina ion will pass o his nex oldes b o he . In cases whe e he cu en headman o p ies has an
unde age son, empo a y esponsibili ies a e assigned o his younge b o he un il such ime ha he
hei eaches adul hood. I no b o he s a e a ailable, a mino son may be appoin ed acco ding o
he edi a y cus oms and will ul il his du ies unde he guidance o senio illage membe s. Thus, he
he edi a y oles o p ies and P adhan ha e been p ese ed up o he p esen day.
Con e sely, he posi ion o "Dangua/Dakua" is awa ded unanimously o an indi idual who
demons a es a commi men o social se ice. When a Dangua chooses no o con inue in hei ole,
hei son is o e ed succession i s . I he declines his oppo uni y, ano he quali ied candida e
possessing simila ai s will be nomina ed by majo i y o e. The eason o p io i izing he o sp ing
o he cu en Dangua s ems om adi ion; his ole is o en held o ex ended pe iods, and ou o
espec o amilial ies and humani y, p e e ence is gi en o his son be o e conside ing o he po en ial
candida es.
Role and Responsibili ies o Communi y Membe s
The P adhan se es as he chie adminis a i e leade o he illage, possessing essen ial leade ship
and decision-making skills. He holds he au ho i y o impose penal ies on w ongdoe s and e ec i ely
manage bo h in a- illage and in e - illage dispu es. The P adhan esol es a ious con lic s be ween
indi iduals and amilies, cu ails an i-social beha iou s, and add esses issues ela ed o he , bu gla y,
and o he o ms o misconduc . Addi ionally, he is asked wi h main aining law and o de wi hin he
illage, os e ing communi y cohesion, assis ing esiden s du ing eme gencies, sa egua ding
communal asse s, and nu u ing posi i e poli ical ies wi h neighbou ing illages.
Mo eo e , he o e sees ma e s conce ning illage bounda ies and he p o ec ion o na u al esou ces
while moni o ing ac i i ies du ing local es i als and i uals. The P adhan is also expec ed o ake an
ac i e ole in p omo ing socio-cul u al, poli ical, and economic ad ancemen wi hin he illage. He
mus iden i y pe pe a o s based on e idence and es imonies in consul a ion wi h elde s be o e
di ec ing he “dangua” o announce any ines (Jhond) ha a e o be imposed. His in ol emen is
c ucial in ein eg a ing de ian indi iduals back in o he social ab ic o illage li e. The P adhan
ensu es ha ic ims ecei e app op ia e empa hy as well as inancial assis ance om he communi y
und. This und is unde his di ec supe ision; he is esponsible o i s managemen including
collec ion, g ow h, and edis ibu ion when necessa y. Fu he mo e, he collabo a es wi h senio
illage s o de e mine he in e es a es applicable o his und.
The “Dehu y”, o eligious leade o he illage, plays a pi o al ole by appeasing all local dei ies o
ensu e he wel a e o illage s. His p aye s a e di ec ed owa ds secu ing good heal h, p omo ing
economic p ospe i y, sa egua ding domes ica ed animals, enhancing ag icul u al ou pu h ough imely
24 In e sec ions o Fai h and Cul u e: Ame ican Jou nal o Religious and Cul u al S udies www. g njou nal.us
ain all, ensu ing a ailabili y o ui s and oo s while mi iga ing na u al disas e s ha could h ea en
li es.
Du ing es i als and i uals, he wo ships dei ies o a disease- ee exis ence among illage s while
p e en ing male olen spi i s om en e ing illage p emises; addi ionally p o ec ing c ops om
wildli e h ea s such as wild animals o pes s is pa o his du ies. He is esponsible o main aining
cleanliness a places o wo ship by ensu ing ha indi iduals deemed impu e acco ding o cul u al
no ms do no en e hese sac ed spaces.
Indi iduals o amilies classi ied as impu e may include hose who ha e ailed o conduc pu i ica ion
i es ollowing bi hs o dea hs; hose who ha e ma ied h ough elopemen wi hou pe o ming
equisi e i uals; pe sons who ha e commi ed ac s such as killing a cow; ma iages in ol ing
scheduled cas es; o women du ing mens ua ion—all p ohibi ed om accessing sac ed a eas.
In ins ances whe e pollu ion occu s wi hin wo ship si es due o someone's ac ions, hey a e equi ed o
bea he cos s associa ed wi h pu i ica ion i es which may include hos ing a communal eas as
es i u ion. Hence o h, i alls upon he p ies ’s du y o uphold cleanliness a all wo ship loca ions.
Wi hin Bhuyan socie y, e e y household main ains an ances al wo ship space known as “Mul Gha ”
o “Bhi a Gha ”. The p ies also possesses a designa ed sac ed a ea whe e he ene a es ances o s
while s o ing all i ual ins umen s pe inen o illage-le el ce emonies—a space es ic ed om en y
by o he clan membe s o indi iduals in s a es conside ed pollu ed.
Func ion o socio-poli ical ins i u ions
The Bhuyan communi y leads a sel -su icien exis ence wi hin a de ined geog aphical egion.U ilising
hei adi ional socio-poli ical ins i u ions, hey ha e es ablished social, cul u al, economic, and
poli ical amewo ks ha acili a e a heal hy, simplis ic, and disciplined li es yle. Consequen ly,
a ious social ins i u ions ha e eme ged.
In Bhuyan socie y, he socio-poli ical ins i u ions hea ily in luences social ac i i ies. Th ough he
Da ba ins i u ion, indi iduals a e socialized o uphold a disciplined and espec able way o li e while
ensu ing equi able access o common p ope y esou ces and os e ing espec ul social in e ac ions o
cul i a e an o de ly and ha monious en i onmen . The pe spec i es o illage s a e shaped o p omo e
local uni y, b o he hood, and coope a i e ela ionships. To achie e his, alues ela ed o in o mal
educa ion—such as eedom, jus ice, and igh s—a e ins illed in indi iduals' minds. Addi ionally, he
socio-poli ical ins i u ions plays a c ucial ole in sa egua ding language, cus oms, adi ions, and
egula ing labo di isions based on age and gende .
As ou lined p e iously, one o he p ima y oles o he socio-poli ical ins i u ions is o egula e
indi idual beha iou . Va ious con lic s a e add essed wi hin he Da ba amewo k. Se ious penal ies
a e imposed on w ongdoe s o de e u u e unaccep able ac ions. Howe e , in ins ances whe e
e idence o wi nesses a e lacking, pe pe a o s may e ade punishmen . In such cases, he accused is
equi ed o ake an oa h in ol ing soil; hey ene a e a s one ep esen ing hem while in oking cu ses
upon i . Should he accused p o ide alse es imony du ing his p ocess, hey isk supe na u al
e ibu ion which could esul in dea h. They mus a i m while holding he soil: "I I lie hen I will die
in nea u u e and I shall be imme sed in he soil." Con e sely, i an accused pe son admi s hei
w ongdoing despi e insu icien e idence o wi nesses p esen , leniency may be g an ed ega ding hei
punishmen . A po ion o any imposed ines is alloca ed o communal eas s while he emaining
unds con ibu e o he illage's common und.
Role and Responsibili ies o Dangua/Dakua
The dangua, o dakua, holds a c ucial posi ion in he communal ac i i ies o Bhuyan illage. Ac ing as
bo h an aide and messenge o he P ies and P adhan, he dakua dissemina es in o ma ion ega ding
upcoming mee ings o e e y household. In addi ion o managing in a- illage communica ions, he also
coo dina es de ails ela ed o in e - illage discussions and o he ele an ma e s. The dakua se es as a
i al link be ween he illage s, he P ies , and he P adhan.
25 In e sec ions o Fai h and Cul u e: Ame ican Jou nal o Religious and Cul u al S udies www. g njou nal.us
A he illage le el, he dangua is an excep ionally ac i e igu e who ocally announces mee ing
de ails om he Da ba loca ion. He suppo s he P adhan in o e seeing, sa egua ding, and dis ibu ing
sha ed communi y esou ces. Fu he mo e, he plays a key ole in b inging o h indi iduals accused o
misconduc be o e he Da ba and ensu es ha ines a e collec ed om o ende s.
As p e iously no ed, Bhuyan illage main ains a common und ha is o e seen by he P adhan wi h
assis ance om he dangua. His commi men o upholding social, cul u al, economic, and poli ical
o de wi hin he communi y is unwa e ing. Consequen ly, he dakua enjoys a p ominen s a us among
illage s; his in ol emen is essen ial o conduc ing mee ings a he Da ba e ec i ely.
P ocess o impeachmen om Posi ions
The emo al o P adhan and Dehu y wi hin he Bhuyan communi y is an uncommon occu ence.
These oles a e ypically he edi a y, g an ing hem a sense o pe manence. In ins ances o old age,
men al o physical incapaci y, o dea h, he elde son empo a ily inhe i s he posi ion. Du ing he
ecen es i al known as “Di Bandana,” he is o icially ecognised as he pe manen P adhan o P ies .
Should he newly appoin ed son demons a e beha iou deemed inapp op ia e—such as being
in oxica ed, decei ul, accep ing ood om lowe cas e g oups, o expe iencing al e ca ions wi h
o he s—he aces disciplina y ac ions in acco dance wi h communi y ules. Gene ally, he mus
con ibu e o he cos s associa ed wi h pu i ying dei ies and o ganising communal eas s. He is
expec ed o e ain om such misconduc in he u u e.
In cases whe e an indi idual has consumed ood o wa e p epa ed by a lowe cas e o has been
physically assaul ed by membe s o ha g oup, a pu i ica ion ce emony is conduc ed which includes
head sha ing by a ba be . The indi idual bea s all expenses ela ed o hese pu i ica ion i es. This
guideline applies o all male membe s wi hin he socie y.
Repea ed in ac ions esul in disquali ica ion om holding he posi ion; consequen ly, esponsibili y
shi s o his eldes son. I he has a mino son, one o his b o he s assumes empo a y du ies un il he
boy eaches adul hood. In si ua ions whe e he e a e no b o he s a ailable, an elde male membe o
he clan (Bansa) s eps in o his ole.
I is impo an o no e ha women a e no pe mi ed o se e as p ies s o P adhans wi hin his
communi y. In scena ios whe e no male membe s a e p esen in he clan, a p ies o P adhan may be
sou ced om a neighbou ing Bhuyan illage and acco ded illage s a us o ha ime.
Economic Li e and socio-poli ical ins i u ions
The Paudi Bhuyan communi y is cha ac e ised by a a ie y o adi ional cul u al a ibu es and
p ac ices. They emb ace con en ional me hods o ag icul u e mainly shi ing ag icul u al p ac ices,
wi h ice se ing as hei p ima y ood sou ce. Due o hei geog aphical ci cums ances, hey a e
compelled o engage in shi ing cul i a ion o sus enance. Addi ionally, hey enhance hei die wi h
p oduc s sou ced om local o es s. His o ically, he ibe has also pa icipa ed in hun ing and pas o al
ac i i ies.
Socio-poli ical ins i u ions plays a c ucial ole du ing he alloca ion o land designa ed o shi ing
cul i a ion; communi y membe s a e equi ed o adhe e o he di ec i es issued by his go e ning
body. The Da ba is esponsible o sa egua ding and managing essen ial communal esou ces such as
o es s, g azing a eas, and bu ial g ounds. All illage communal p ope ies all unde he ju isdic ion
o his poli ical en i y.
Fu he mo e, he adi ional council o e sees he es ablishmen and e ec i e u ilisa ion o illage
unds du ing imes o c isis. They ensu e imely collec ion o s ipula ed ees om indi iduals o os e
g ow h in hese unds. Communi y membe s may seek loans om hese esou ces when aced wi h
eme gencies such as d ough s, loods, unexpec ed home damages, o signi ican li e e en s like
ma iages o une als.
The council also go e ns in e es collec ions and de e mines applicable in e es a es on loans. I se s
wage s anda ds o bo h male and emale labou e s wi hin he illage con ex . Decisions ega ding
26 In e sec ions o Fai h and Cul u e: Ame ican Jou nal o Religious and Cul u al S udies www. g njou nal.us
communal expendi u es o es i als, wo ship se ices, dance pe o mances, music e en s, as well as
pu chasing and main aining musical ins umen s a e also made collec i ely.
Annual compensa ion (Ba an) o se ice p o ide s such as ba be s (Ba ik), washe men (Dhoba), and
po e s (Kumbha ) du ing li e cycle ce emonies is ag eed upon unanimously du ing Da ba mee ings.
Religious P ac ices and Go e nance among he Bhuyan
The Bhuyan communi y is no ably ecognised o hei ene a ion o na u e. They pay homage o
a ious na u al elemen s, including hills, moun ains, i e s, ain all, ligh ning, ai , he sun and moon,
as well as ea h ( e e ed o as Basuki Ma a), s ones, ees, and lea es du ing hei es i als and i uals.
The p ese a ion and upkeep o hese sac ed wo ship si es a e managed by hei adi ional socio-
poli ical ins i u ions. Collec i ely, his socio-poli ical ins i u ions is esponsible o main aining he
sanc i y o all e e ed loca ions wi hin each illage. I is commonly belie ed ha any o m o
con amina ion—whe he in en ional o acciden al—o hese sac ed spaces esul s in he displeasu e o
di ine beings. Acco ding o Bhuyan belie s, ensu ing ha mony wi h hese supe na u al en i ies is
pa amoun ; hus, indi iduals who iola e hese ules and pollu e sac ed si es ace epe cussions om
he council. In such ins ances, he indi idual deemed a aul mus bea all cos s associa ed wi h
pu i ica ion. All eligious obse ances— om es i als o li e-cycle ce emonies—a e conduc ed unde
he di ec o e sigh o he P adhan, who se es as he leade o he adi ional illage council.
Recen Changes and Thei Impac on he Paudi Bhuyan Socie y
Change is an inhe en aspec o na u e and occu s con inuously. The adi ional Socio-poli ical
amewo k o he Bhuyan ibe has unde gone signi ican ans o ma ions, p ima ily due o he
in oduc ion o he Panchaya Raj Ins i u ion (PRI) by he Go e nmen . This ini ia i e p ecipi a ed a
subs an ial shi in he powe dynamics a he illage le el. Elec ed ep esen a i es, including Wa d
Membe s, Sa panchs, and o he PRI membe s, assumed esponsibili y o planning and execu ing
comp ehensi e de elopmen p ojec s bo h wi hin hei illages and a he Panchaya and Block le els.
Ini ially, his ansi ion aced esis ance in Bhuyan e i o ies; communi y membe s p o es ed agains
in as uc u e de elopmen s such as oads and hospi als. Thei conce ns can e ed a ound he belie ha
imp o ed oad access would in i e ou side s in o hei illages, while new hospi als could in oduce
un amilia diseases. They we e app ehensi e abou comp omising hei socio-cul u al in eg i y.
In esponse o hese challenges, PRI launched a ious awa eness p og ams in emo e a eas inhabi ed
by he Bhuyan people. These ini ia i es ocused on heal h educa ion, which led o a shi in a i udes
owa ds heal h and disease managemen . As illage s lea ned hey would ha e a say in elec ing local
ep esen a i es, accep ance o his new go e nance s uc u e began o g ow. Village s ecognised ha
someone om hei own communi y would likely ad oca e ea nes ly o local wel a e.
O e ime, Palli Sabhas & G am sabhas eme ged as pla o ms o discussing de elopmen al issues
wi hin he communi y. This ma ked a no iceable ans o ma ion in he s uc u e o Bhuyan illages,
wi h imp o emen s such as all-wea he oads, schools, heal hca e se ices, elec ici y access, and
equi able selec ion p ocesses o housing bene i s becoming e iden .
Consequen ly, he in luence o adi ional leade s like P adhans diminished conce ning de elopmen al
decisions; mee ings con ened by Palli Sabhas & g ama sabhas a e now p edominan ly led by PRI
Membe s. Al hough P adhans a e s ill in i ed as special gues s o hese ga he ings, hei inpu ca ies
limi ed weigh du ing discussions abou de elopmen ini ia i es. Howe e , hey con inue o p eside
o e mee ings add essing socio-cul u al ma e s.
Communi y sen imen s indica e ha P adhans hold less au ho i y compa ed o PRI Membe s oday.
No ably, PRI Membe s ha e also aken on esponsibili ies ela ed o p ese ing he cus oms and
adi ions o he Bhuyan ibe. The ole o dakua emains unchanged; he ac s as a liaison no only o
he adi ional head (P adhan) bu also o elec ed PRI Membe s.
27 In e sec ions o Fai h and Cul u e: Ame ican Jou nal o Religious and Cul u al S udies www. g njou nal.us
Conclusion
The e ol ing landscape has led o a g adual ans o ma ion in he adi ional socio-poli ical ins i u ions
o he Paudi Bhuyan communi y. His o ically, illage ma e s we e o e seen by a adi ional council;
howe e , some aspec s ha e emained unchanged. The oles o P adhan and Dehu y con inue o be
he edi a y. Ne e heless, he e has been a no able shi in he signi icance o socio-poli ical ins i u ions
wi hin he illage. The s a u e and in luence o he illage head (P adhan) ha e diminished o e ime.
P e iously, he commanded g ea espec among illage s, bu his s a us has since declined o a deg ee.
This decline can be a ibu ed o he in oduc ion o he Panchaya i Raj Ins i u ion (PRI) sys em and he
elec ion o public ep esen a i es h ough di ec elec ions. Cu en ly, decisions ega ding illage
de elopmen —including in as uc u e, educa ion, public dis ibu ion sys ems (PDS), bene icia y
selec ion, and heal h se ices—a e p edominan ly made by hese elec ed membe s. Village s
inc easingly u n o elec ed membe s o assis ance in accessing go e nmen schemes and p og ams
ha mee hei needs. Fu he mo e, he Bhuyans ha e become mo e awa e abou con empo a y laws
and egula ions as well as local law en o cemen and judicial p ocesses. Despi e hese changes, he
adi ional socio-poli ical amewo k played a c ucial ole in os e ing a sense o o de and digni y
wi hin socie y by p omo ing social ha mony and s abili y in he communi y.
The Pi ha sys em o he Paudi Bhuyan ibe exempli ies a complex amewo k o sel -go e nance
based on cus oma y law and collec i e consensus. An e hnog aphic examina ion o he Pi ha s uc u e
unco e s a decen alised poli ical en i y ha go e ns socio-poli ical ma e s, media es dispu es,
upholds cul u al adi ions, and coo dina es communi y i uals. This ins i u ion unc ions independen ly
om he o mal legal appa a us o he Indian s a e, ye i holds signi ican legi imacy among he Paudi
Bhuyan people, e lec ing hei esilience and au onomy amids he enc oachmen o mode n s a e
sys ems. Addi ionally, in e nal issues such as gene a ional changes, educa ional in luences, and
mig a ion a e eshaping how he Paudi Bhuyan iew he ele ance o he Pi ha. While olde
gene a ions emain s ead as in hei allegiance o i s au ho i y, younge indi iduals a e inc easingly
swayed by ex e nal s a e poli ical sys ems and judicia y.
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