Abstract
This paper examines the dynamic interface between law, society and indigenous wisdom, analysing how customary legal systems, cultural naratives and moral jurisprudence contribute to sustainable justice. It explores India’s plural legal framework, where statutory, religious and customary norms coexist and evaluates constitutional and international recognition of indigenous governance. Drawing on the Durga Saptashati as a moral-legal allegory, the study highlights restorative justice, gender equity and proportionality. It further assesses the role of indigenous knowledge in environment governance, climate policy and sustainable development in a rapidly modernising, technology-driven world.
- Introduction
The evolution of the modern jurisprudence has long been dominated by a monistic, state-centric conception of law that frequently marginalizes alternative normative frameworks. However, contemporary legal challenges ranging from systematic gender-based inequalities to accelerating ecological crisis increasingly demand a shift towards legal pluralism and interdisciplinary problem-solving. This paper explores the critical intersection of statutory law, social structures and indigenous wisdom, arguing that ancient cultural narratives and customary legal systems offer profound, untapped paradigms for achieving sustainable and restrorative justice. By evaluating the co-existence of state legislations andlong standing tribal governance structures in India, alongside a jurisprudence- focused examination of moral allegories within the Durga Saptashati, this study demonstrates how integrating traditional knowledge can bridge the gap between rigid legal positivism and culturally sensitive, equitable governance in a modernizing world.