Published Paper Details:

This academic discourse examines the progressive evolution of village governance in Mizoram, focusing its analysis on the transition from hereditary chieftainship to democratically established Village Councils. Established within the legislative context provided by the Lushai Hills District (Village Councils) Act of 1953, this evolution replaced the centralized authority of chieftains with participatory mechanisms that represented grassroots democratic principles. The research elucidates how the dissolution of chieftainship signified not merely a political restructuring but also engendered a significant sociological transition, effectively dismantling established hierarchies, redistributing power, and empowering the general populace of villagers. Since that time, Village Councils have assumed a crucial role in reconfiguring leadership paradigms, promoting inclusivity through electoral participation, and ingraining democratic values within the fabric of community existence. By scrutinizing this pivotal transformation, the article accentuates the capacity of indigenous tribal institutions to adapt to contemporary governance norms while concurrently safeguarding cultural identity.