TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP AND PANCHAYATI RAJ AMONG THE MONPAS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH

The introduction of the Panchayati Raj System in Arunachal Pradesh marked a significant transition in the governance structure of indigenous communities by institutionalizing democratic decentralization alongside existing customary institutions. This study examines the changing patterns of traditional leadership among the Monpas of Tawang and West Kameng districts, with particular emphasis on the transformation of the Tsorgan institution following the introduction of statutory Panchayats. The paper is based on extensive empirical fieldwork conducted across 108 Monpa villages selected from 343 villages inhabited by the community. Data were collected from 1,280 respondents comprising villagers, Tsorgans (traditional village leaders), and Panchayat members through structured interview schedules, participant observation, and informal discussions. The findings reveal that although the Panchayati Raj System has substantially strengthened democratic participation and accelerated developmental activities, it has simultaneously altered the traditional political structure by creating multiple centres of authority. The emergence of elected leadership, party politics, majority-based decision-making, and administrative decentralization has gradually diminished the authority of the Tsorgan while increasing political awareness among rural communities. Nevertheless, the study demonstrates that the Tsorgan continues to retain considerable legitimacy in judicial, customary, and socio-cultural affairs, thereby illustrating the resilience of indigenous governance institutions despite institutional modernization. Rather than replacing traditional leadership, Panchayati Raj has produced a hybrid governance system characterized by coexistence, negotiation, and occasional conflict between customary and statutory authorities. The paper argues that sustainable rural governance in tribal societies requires greater institutional coordination between indigenous political institutions and constitutionally mandated local self-government to preserve customary legitimacy while promoting democratic development.