The Manki-Munda system, rooted in Ho tribal traditions of Jharkhand’s Kolhan, features hereditary Mundas and Mankis managing disputes and governance. Codified by the British in 1837, it endures today, balancing customary law, tribal identity, and democratic Panchayati Raj institutions.
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Members of the Ho adivasi community in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district protested against the Deputy Commissioner, alleging interference in the traditional Manki-Munda self-governance system.
It is a centuries-old, decentralized self-governance framework of the Ho tribe in Jharkhand’s Kolhan region.
It focuses on resolving socio-political disputes through hereditary leaders without external sovereign authority or taxation.
Munda: The hereditary head of a village, responsible for resolving local disputes, maintaining social harmony, and upholding community traditions.
Manki: Oversees a "pidh" (cluster of 8-15 villages), addressing disputes escalated from Mundas.
Function: Operates as an internal governance mechanism, historically free from revenue or land-related duties, emphasizing consensus-based decision-making.
Hereditary Nature: Leadership passes from father to son, ensuring continuity but sparking calls for reform.
About Ho TribeThey are an Austroasiatic Munda ethnic group primarily concentrated in Jharkhand’s Kolhan region and northern Odisha, with smaller populations in West Bengal, Bihar, Bangladesh, and Nepal. They are the fourth-largest Scheduled Tribe in Jharkhand after Santals, Kurukhs, and Mundas. Demographics: Constitute 10.7% of Jharkhand’s and 7.3% of Odisha’s Scheduled Tribe population (2011 Census). Language: Speak the Ho language, an Austroasiatic language related to Mundari, with dialects (Lohara, Chaibasa, Thakurmunda) and a native Warang Citi script. Economy: Primarily agricultural; some engaged in iron ore mining. Sarnaism: 52.8% follow Sarnaism (2011), a nature-centric religion with rituals by deuri (priests) and deowa (spirit doctors). Gender Dynamics: High status for women; bride-price (₹101-1,001) is symbolic but delays marriages, leading to a female-majority population. Festivals and Arts: Key festivals (Mage Parab, Baa Porob, Sohrai) involve dances with instruments like Dama and Rutu, celebrating agriculture and Sal forests. |
Pre-British Era: The Ho tribe operated a self-sufficient system, free from external taxation or centralized authority, rooted in community consensus.
British Intervention:
Wilkinson’s Rules (1833) and Hukuknama: Captain Thomas Wilkinson codified the Manki-Munda system into 31 rules, integrated the system into colonial revenue mechanisms,.
Impact of Codification
Turned Mundas/Mankis into British agents, enabling integration with colonial administration.
Facilitated non-tribal (dikkus) influx, driven by railways and land deeds introducing private property concepts.
Post-1947 Continuity: Kolhan exempted from general civil laws; Wilkinson’s Rules continued as customs.
Judicial Precedent: In Mora Ho vs State of Bihar (2000, Patna HC), rules were deemed customs, not law, but allowed to continue due to lack of alternatives.
Constitutional Provisions
Reform Attempts: Jharkhand’s 2021 Nyay Manch draft aimed to modernize the system but remains unpassed.
Trigger: Complaints from SCs/OBCs (e.g., Gope community) about Mundas restricting non-traditional livelihoods.
DC’s Response: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Issued a nine-point directive to enhance transparency, sparking protests.
Administration’s Clarification: Denies interference with customary laws.
Community Divide: Traditionalists (e.g., Manki Munda Sangh) oppose non-tribal appointments.
Reform with Sensitivity: Introduce elective elements (e.g., Gram Sabha approvals for Mundas) while preserving cultural core, through Ho community consultations.
Capacity Building: Train Manki-Munda leaders in legal literacy, digital tools, and modern governance to address administrative gaps.
PESA Implementation: Strengthen Gram Sabhas under PESA Act for filling vacancies and resolving disputes, ensuring tribal agency.
Inclusive Governance: Balance non-tribal (SC/OBC) rights with Ho autonomy, promoting livelihood diversification without undermining traditions.
Legal Codification: Enact state legislation under Fifth Schedule to formalize the system, replacing outdated Wilkinson’s Rules with clear guidelines.
The Manki-Munda system in Jharkhand’s Kolhan exemplifies tribal self-governance, requiring reforms that balance adivasi autonomy with democratic inclusivity and administrative efficiency.
Source: INDIANEXPRESS
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. The Manki-Munda system, frequently seen in the news, is associated with: A) Gonds of Madhya Pradesh B) Ho tribe of Jharkhand C) Khasis of Meghalaya D) Todas of Tamil Nadu Answer: B Explanation: The Manki-Munda system is a traditional, decentralized form of governance used by the Ho tribe in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand. |
It is a traditional self-governance system of the Ho tribe in Jharkhand’s Kolhan region, led by hereditary village heads (Mundas) and cluster heads (Mankis).
Mundas are hereditary village heads who resolve disputes, maintain social order, and uphold tribal customs.
It is mainly practiced in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand, home to the Ho tribe.
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