The Centre for Law and Indigenous Studies (CLIS), Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), launched “Tribes of Chhattisgarh: Law and Lives”, a book exploring the customs, traditions, and socio-legal practices of tribal communities in Chhattisgarh.
The launch ceremony was graced by Justice Arup Kumar Goswami, Chairperson, Assam Human Rights Commission and Distinguished Jurist Professor, HNLU, along with Prof. (Dr.) V.C. Vivekanandan, Vice-Chancellor, HNLU, the Registrar, faculty members, and students.
In his address, Prof. (Dr.) Vivekanandan described the book as “an important step in HNLU's vision of documenting and preserving tribal customary laws, which are vital not only for academic discourse but also for protecting the cultural identity and legal heritage of indigenous peoples.”
Commending the initiative, Justice Goswami remarked that the study represents “a meaningful contribution to the national dialogue on legal pluralism and indigenous rights, highlighting the need to balance constitutional safeguards with respect for tribal identity.”
Dr. Ayan Hazra, Faculty of HNLU and author of the book briefed the audience on the concept and narrative for bringing in the publication and stated the initiative will followed by the Centre with other publications in the coming day. The Book was co-authored by Mr. Anas Khan, a 9th Semester student of HNLU
The project contains contributions of HNLU's Scheduled Tribe students from communities of Chhattisgarh. Through fieldwork, data collection, and their experiences, the students enriched the narrative, making the work both an academic study and a genuine reflection of community voices.
The book provides an examination of tribal customary laws governing marriage, inheritance, property, land use, and dispute resolution. It further analyses the evolving relationship between these indigenous systems and constitutional principles, especially in areas such as gender rights, land alienation, and justice delivery.
The volume is expected to become a resource for academics, policymakers, and social activists working in the field of indigenous rights and legal pluralism.