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FIWNA Hosts Third Virtual Interaction Series on "Tumyang Customary Law of the Limbu People"
The Federation of Indigenous Women of Nepal in America (FIWNA) successfully organized the third virtual interaction series on the topic “Tumyang Customary Law of the Limbu,” shedding light on the traditional legal systems of one of Nepal’s prominent Indigenous communities.
Advocate and Indigenous women’s rights defender, Ms. Amrita Thebe, presented the session, drawing from her in-depth research on the subject. Her presentation offered a comprehensive understanding of how the Tumyang Customary Law once governed the lives of the Limbu people—regulating conflict resolution, birth, marriage, death rituals, and land rights within families. She emphasized how the system was systematically undermined following the entry of the Gorkha regime during the so-called reunification of Nepal.
The Tumyang system, historically prevalent in the eastern regions of Nepal where the Limbu people primarily reside, was traditionally governed by village leaders or senior family members known as Tumayang. These figures played a pivotal role in maintaining justice, social harmony, and cultural order within the community.
The event drew wide participation from community leaders, Indigenous activists, rights defenders, students, journalists, and representatives of various organizations. They offered insightful remarks and posed critical questions during the interactive session.
Dr. Krishna Bhattachan, a respected scholar and professor, praised the research and urged that such valuable documentation be distributed across Indigenous community institutions, libraries, and offices. He further recommended that the research on Tumyang Customary Law be translated into the Limbu script, in addition to Nepali and English, to preserve the knowledge for future generations in their native linguistic form.
Yassokanti Bhattachan, a committed Indigenous women’s rights activist, raised an essential question regarding gender equality in Tumyang practice. “Since it is said that men and women are equal in Indigenous cultures, were women included in the Tumyang system?” she inquired, highlighting the need to evaluate historical roles and representation.
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Durga Mani Yamphu, a human rights and Indigenous freedoms activist, called upon the Limbu people to revive and practice their customary laws independently, stating:
“This system is ours—it has survived despite opposition from the current government. We must lead the revival through our own actions.”
Echoing this sentiment, Ram Maden, another Indigenous activist, emphasized the importance of global collaboration among Indigenous peoples to elevate such issues and share their voices internationally.
Advocate Indira Shreesh, a leader in the Indigenous women’s movement, provided a comparative perspective by sharing insights into the experiences and status of Indigenous peoples in the United States. She also encouraged FIWNA to continue facilitating such events to foster international dialogue and solidarity.
In response to the questions raised, Ms. Thebe clarified that women did indeed hold significant roles in the Tumyang system prior to the Gorkha invasion. However, the influence of Hindu patriarchal values led to the gradual exclusion of women from leadership and judicial roles in Indigenous governance.
The session was moderated by FIWNA President Indira Chongbang, who expressed sincere appreciation to all speakers and participants. She reaffirmed FIWNA’s commitment to promoting, preserving, and transmitting Indigenous knowledge systems and culture to communities across the globe and to future generations. She also confirmed that the virtual interaction series would continue with more topics in the near future.
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