THE BLU INSTITUTION: INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AND
CUSTOMARY JUSTICE AMONG THE SHERDUKPENS OF
ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Dr. Yeshi Gyesen

doi:10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i08.035

Title: THE BLU INSTITUTION: INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AND CUSTOMARY JUSTICE AMONG THE SHERDUKPENS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Authors: Dr. Yeshi Gyesen
Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER) ISSN: 2455-8834 Volume: 11 Issue: 8 Publication Date: August 2026 DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i08.035
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Dr. Yeshi Gyesen Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Principal, Dorjee Khandu Government College, Tawang
MLA 8 Gyesen, Dr. Yeshi. "THE BLU INSTITUTION: INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AND CUSTOMARY JUSTICE AMONG THE SHERDUKPENS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 11, no. 8, Aug. 2026, pp. 4188-4226, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i08.035. Accessed Aug. 2026. APA 6 Gyesen, D. (2026, August). THE BLU INSTITUTION: INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AND CUSTOMARY JUSTICE AMONG THE SHERDUKPENS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 11(8), 4188-4226. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i08.035 Chicago Gyesen, Dr. Yeshi. "THE BLU INSTITUTION: INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AND CUSTOMARY JUSTICE AMONG THE SHERDUKPENS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 11, no. 8 (August 2026), 4188-4226. Accessed August, 2026. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i08.035.
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ABSTRACT: The indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh have historically evolved distinctive systems of governance that regulate their socio-political, economic, judicial, and cultural life through customary institutions. Among the Sherdukpens of West Kameng district, the Blu represents one such enduring institution that has served as the principal mechanism of village administration, customary justice, and collective decision-making for centuries. Although modern statutory institutions introduced after Independence have transformed the administrative landscape of the region, the Blu continues to command considerable social legitimacy owing to its reliance on customary law, consensual decision-making, and community participation. This article examines the historical evolution, organizational structure, administrative functions, judicial procedures, and contemporary significance of the Blu institution. Drawing upon extensive ethnographic fieldwork, oral traditions, and historical sources, the study analyses how the Blu has adapted to changing political circumstances while preserving its fundamental role as the custodian of Sherdukpen customary law and social order. The article argues that the resilience of the Blu lies in its ability to integrate traditional authority with changing administrative realities without losing its cultural legitimacy. Rather than viewing indigenous governance as a relic of the past, the study demonstrates that institutions such as the Blu continue to constitute vibrant mechanisms of local governance and dispute resolution that complement formal state institutions in contemporary Arunachal Pradesh.

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