On the Future of Indigenous Traditions - Munin

The case was investigated by the Manki, who, based on the documented proofs,
witnesses written testimonies and examination of all the oral and documented facts,
gave his decision in writing: Namsi, before leaving the village, gave her husband’s
share of land to Chokro in bandhak, 139 -kind of bond for ten years in return for some
money. Thereafter, the ownership of the land was supposed to return to their daughter
Laxmi. Some years later Laxmi was brought back to live with her father’s relatives
while her mother Namsi got married to someone else. The Manki collected witness
statements of Bhugon’s and Namsi’s marriage and also of witness of Lakshmi’s birth
including photo of her taken with her parents and relatives as proof. Now, when
Laxmi was brought back by Namsy’s brothers to Bhugon’s village, still young and
could not manage an independent life, the matter was discussed with the munda of the
village and it was agreed that she live with Chokro’s guardianship until she has grows
up. It was also found that Chokro cultivated this land for one year and left it fallow
feeling guilty that he had paid such a small sum of money for the land. Soma seeing
that the land was not being used for any purpose now wanted it to be shared among
the male members of the family. Making a record of all the facts, the Manki gave his
decision in favor of Chokro, who was fighting the case on behalf of Laxmi. In this
decision Soma, should have nothing to do with this land. Thus, this disputed land
should be in the possession of Laxmi for cultivation or for other use until she is
married. (After she marries this plot of land would go back to the Deogam family for
redistributed in the next periodical distribution of land to their younger generation. If
she decides to stay unmarried she will have the plot of land to herself until she dies,
and if she is married she would leave this plot of land and join in the land property of
her husband in another village.)
4.5.2 The case of Jambo Kui vs. Jogesh Bodra
There was a complaint by Jambo Kui against Jogesh Chander Bodra. According to the
Manki the opponent, Bodra, “did not have full information about the matter”, where
as the petitioner Jambo Kui “had documented proof – the sales deed from the district
registrar’s office with her” and therefor the decision went in her favor. Kui argued
that this plot of land, on which she was making a house, was being stopped by Bodra
139 Bandhak – a bond, which could be oral or written. In this case it was a written one.
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