KariMccool73 at 12:50, 23 March 2025

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	==Rights, roles, responsibilities==		==Rights, roles, responsibilities==
	Women have a dominant role in the matrilineal society of Meghalaya. The youngest daughter of the family, the ''Ka Khadduh'',<ref name= Allen/> inherits all ancestral property. After marriage, husbands live in the mother-in-law's home. The mother's surname is taken by children. When no daughters are born to a couple, they adopt a daughter and pass their rights to property to her. The birth of a girl is celebrated while the birth of a son is simply accepted.<ref name= Rimmer/> There is no social stigma attributed to a woman remarrying or giving birth out of wedlock as the "Khasi Social Custom Lineage Act" gives security to them. Women are known to intermarry outside their tribe.<ref name= Bhaumik/> The women who enjoy all the rights live an independent life, dress well, attend church, and many prefer not to get married. They enjoy total security, unlike in the rest of the country.<ref name= Bouissou/> A successful career ~~women~~ of the Khasi society feels that "their societal anomaly" has enabled her to be successful in every way.<ref name=Allen>{{Cite news\|last=Allen\|first=Timothy\|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16592633\|title=Meghalaya, India: Where women rule, and men are suffragettes\|date=19 January 2012\|access-date=10 March 2016\|newspaper=BBC News\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322204146/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16592633\|archive-date=22 March 2016}}</ref> Most small businesses are managed by women.<ref name= Bhaumik/>		Women have a dominant role in the matrilineal society of Meghalaya. The youngest daughter of the family, the ''Ka Khadduh'',<ref name= Allen/> inherits all ancestral property. After marriage, husbands live in the mother-in-law's home. The mother's surname is taken by children. When no daughters are born to a couple, they adopt a daughter and pass their rights to property to her. The birth of a girl is celebrated while the birth of a son is simply accepted.<ref name= Rimmer/> There is no social stigma attributed to a woman remarrying or giving birth out of wedlock as the "Khasi Social Custom Lineage Act" gives security to them. Women are known to intermarry outside their tribe.<ref name= Bhaumik/> The women who enjoy all the rights live an independent life, dress well, attend church, and many prefer not to get married. They enjoy total security, unlike in the rest of the country.<ref name= Bouissou/> A successful career woman of the Khasi society feels that "their societal anomaly" has enabled her to be successful in every way.<ref name=Allen>{{Cite news\|last=Allen\|first=Timothy\|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16592633\|title=Meghalaya, India: Where women rule, and men are suffragettes\|date=19 January 2012\|access-date=10 March 2016\|newspaper=BBC News\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322204146/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16592633\|archive-date=22 March 2016}}</ref> Most small businesses are managed by women.<ref name= Bhaumik/>

	In 1994, Bina Agarwal compared characteristic features between the Garo and Khasi. She reported that Garo practiced matrilineal inheritance, matrilocal post-marital residence, a preference for cross-cousin marriage, acceptance of pre-marital sex by women, but adultery by women is punished, while the Khasi practised matrilineal inheritance, [[Matrilocal residence\| matrilocal]] and duolocal post-marital residence (in which the husband lives in a separate house while the wife stays at her parents’ residence), an aversion to cross-cousin marriage, and again, acceptance of pre-marital sex by women, but adultery by women is punished.{{sfn\|Agarwal\|1994\|p=141}}		In 1994, Bina Agarwal compared characteristic features between the Garo and Khasi. She reported that Garo practiced matrilineal inheritance, matrilocal post-marital residence, a preference for cross-cousin marriage, acceptance of pre-marital sex by women, but adultery by women is punished, while the Khasi practised matrilineal inheritance, [[Matrilocal residence\| matrilocal]] and duolocal post-marital residence (in which the husband lives in a separate house while the wife stays at her parents’ residence), an aversion to cross-cousin marriage, and again, acceptance of pre-marital sex by women, but adultery by women is punished.{{sfn\|Agarwal\|1994\|p=141}}

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{{Short description|Migration flow in Meghalaya}}
{{good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
[[File:Khasi_Girls.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Khasi women]]
Multiple tribes in the [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[Meghalaya]] in [[northeast India]] practise [[matrilineal descent]]. Often referred to as [[Khasi people]] and [[Garo people]], among the Khasi people which is a term used as a blanket term for various subgroups in Meghalaya who have distinguishing languages, rites, ceremonies, and habits, but share an ethnic identity as ''Ki Hynniew Trep'' (The Seven Huts) whereas the Garo people refers to the various groups of Achik people. The Khasi, [[Garo people|Garo]], and other subgroups have a proud heritage, including [[matrilineality]], although it was reported in 2004 that they were losing some of their matrilineal traits. The tribes are said to belong to one of the "largest surviving matrilineal culture[s]" in the world.
{{Quote box
| quote ="This system will survive because the people zealously guard this system. It has support from many quarters, including the indigenous religious systems.... The [[NGO]]s in Meghalaya also support this system." – C Joshua Thomas, regional director, [[Indian Council of Social Science Research]]<ref name= Bhaumik/>
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==Background==
Khasi, among multiple tribes in the [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[Meghalaya]] in [[northeast India]], practise [[matrilineal descent]].<ref name=Rimmer>{{Cite web|last=Rimmer|first=Sandra|url=http://www.abroadintheyard.com/ancient-indian-tribe-where-women-are-in-charge/|title=The ancient Indian tribe where the women are in charge and activists lobby for men's rights|access-date=10 March 2016|publisher=Planet Earth & its Life Forms|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310131731/http://www.abroadintheyard.com/ancient-indian-tribe-where-women-are-in-charge/|archive-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> They are referred to as [[Khasi people]]; Khasi is used as an umbrella phrase to refer to many subgroups in Meghalaya who have distinguishing languages, rites, ceremonies, and habits, but share an ethnic identity as ''Ki Hynniew Trep'' (The Seven Huts).{{sfn|Schweizer|White|1998|p=}}

Khasi are an ancient tribe said to be the "largest surviving matrilineal culture[s]" in the world.<ref name=Laird>{{Cite web|last=Laird|first=T.|url=http://lib.icimod.org/record/9474|title=A woman's world: Meghalaya, India – matrilineal culture|access-date=10 March 2016|publisher=ICIMOD|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310153942/http://lib.icimod.org/record/9474|archive-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> who, along with other subgroups, such as Garo, live in Meghalaya, as well as bordering areas of [[Assam]] and [[Bangladesh]]. Khasis are believed to be migrants with ancestral links to the [[Mon State|Mon]]-[[Cambodia|Khmer]] people of [[East Asia]]. The matrilineal tradition which the Khasi and other subgroups practice in Meghalaya is unique within India. Matrilineal principles among the Khasi are emphasised in myths, legends, and origin narratives.{{sfn|Sen|2004|p=48}} Khasi kings embarking on wars left the responsibility of running the family to women and thus their role in society became very deep rooted and respected.<ref name= Rimmer/><ref name= Bhaumik/> Reference to ''Nari Rajya'' (female kingdom; or land of matriarchy) in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' likely correlates with the [[Khasi and Jaintia Hills]] and Meghalaya's present-day matrilineal culture.{{sfn|Mann|1996|p=42-43}}{{sfn|Gupta|1984|p=7}} The proud heritage of the Khasi, [[Garo people|Garo]], and other subgroups is [[matrilineality]]; however in 2004 it was reported that their matrilineal traits were on the wane.{{sfn|Lyndem|De|2004|p=280}}

==Rights, roles, responsibilities==
Women have a dominant role in the matrilineal society of Meghalaya. The youngest daughter of the family, the ''Ka Khadduh'',<ref name= Allen/> inherits all ancestral property. After marriage, husbands live in the mother-in-law's home. The mother's surname is taken by children. When no daughters are born to a couple, they adopt a daughter and pass their rights to property to her. The birth of a girl is celebrated while the birth of a son is simply accepted.<ref name= Rimmer/> There is no social stigma attributed to a woman remarrying or giving birth out of wedlock as the "Khasi Social Custom Lineage Act" gives security to them. Women are known to intermarry outside their tribe.<ref name= Bhaumik/> The women who enjoy all the rights live an independent life, dress well, attend church, and many prefer not to get married. They enjoy total security, unlike in the rest of the country.<ref name= Bouissou/> A successful career women of the Khasi society feels that "their societal anomaly" has enabled her to be successful in every way.<ref name=Allen>{{Cite news|last=Allen|first=Timothy|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16592633|title=Meghalaya, India: Where women rule, and men are suffragettes|date=19 January 2012|access-date=10 March 2016|newspaper=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322204146/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16592633|archive-date=22 March 2016}}</ref> Most small businesses are managed by women.<ref name= Bhaumik/>

In 1994, Bina Agarwal compared characteristic features between the Garo and Khasi. She reported that Garo practiced matrilineal inheritance, matrilocal post-marital residence, a preference for cross-cousin marriage, acceptance of pre-marital sex by women, but adultery by women is punished, while the Khasi practised matrilineal inheritance, [[Matrilocal residence| matrilocal]] and duolocal post-marital residence (in which the husband lives in a separate house while the wife stays at her parents’ residence), an aversion to cross-cousin marriage, and again, acceptance of pre-marital sex by women, but adultery by women is punished.{{sfn|Agarwal|1994|p=141}}

Care of children is the responsibility of mothers or mothers-in-law.<ref name=Bouissou>{{Cite news|last=Bouissou|first=Julien|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/18/india-khasi-women-politics-bouissou|title=Where women of India rule the roost and men demand gender equality|date=18 January 2011|access-date=10 March 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222846/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/18/india-khasi-women-politics-bouissou|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> The youngest daughter of this society who inherits the ancestral property holds a pivotal role of looking after the welfare of her parents in their old age, as well as the welfare and education of her siblings.<ref name= Rimmer/><ref name=Bhaumik>{{Cite news|last=Bhaumik|first=Subir|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/2013/2013/10/meghalaya-where-women-call-shots-2013103152936824511.html|title=Meghalaya: Where women call the shots|date=16 Oct 2013|access-date=10 March 2016|newspaper=Aljazeera|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310143505/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/2013/2013/10/meghalaya-where-women-call-shots-2013103152936824511.html|archive-date=10 March 2016}}</ref>

Some Khasi men perceive themselves to be accorded a secondary status. They have established societies such as the ''Syngkhong Rympei Thymmai'' (SRT)<ref name= Rimmer/> (3,000 members)<ref name= Bhaumik/> and ''Sam Kam Rin Ku Mai'' (Societal Restructuring Association) to protect equal rights for men. They express that "Khasi men don’t have any security, they don’t own land, they don’t run the family business and, at the same time, they are almost good for nothing."<ref name= Rimmer/> However, [[Patricia Mukhim]], who edits the ''[[Shillong Times]]'' feels: "I tend to think Khasi men feel diminished in their manhood compared with outsiders... it's a pity, because that's what distinguishes us from the others".<ref name= Bouissou/>

While the society is matrilineal, it is not matriarchal. In past monarchies of the state, the son of the youngest sister of the king inherited the throne. Even now in the [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]] or village councils or ''panchayats'' the representation of women in politics is minimal.<ref name= Bouissou/> As of 2013, in a [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]] of 60 members, there are only four women. In the male-centric ''Dorbar Shnong'', which is the basic political arm of the tribes, women are not permitted to hold office.<ref name= Bhaumik/> However, women feel that they take better care of money matters than men and they enjoy economic freedom.<ref name= Kirkpatrick>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-sight/wp/2015/04/17/kingdom-of-girls-women-hold-power-in-this-remote-indian-village/ |title=Kingdom of girls: Women hold power in this remote Indian village |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=17 April 2015 |author=Nick Kirkpatrick |access-date= 6 July 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last=Agarwal|first=Bina|title=A Field of One's Own: Gender and Land Rights in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z3pdP30OnEUC&pg=PA141|year=1994|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-42926-9}}
*{{cite book|last=Gupta|first=Pranab Kumar Das|title=Life and Culture of Matrilineal Tribe of Meghalaya|url=https://archive.org/details/lifecultureofmat0000dasg|url-access=registration|year=1984|publisher=Inter-India Publications}}
*{{cite book|last1=Lyndem|first1=Biloris|last2=De|first2=Utpal Kumar|title=Education in North East India: Experience and Challenge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oHJlnkDG8IMC&pg=PA280|year=2004|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-8069-063-1}}
*{{cite book|last=Mann|first=Rann Singh|title=Aspects of Indian Social Anthropology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fuxv9_upHpYC&pg=PA42|year=1996|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-586-7}}
*{{cite book|last1=Schweizer|first1=Thomas|last2=White|first2=Douglas R.|title=Kinship, Networks, and Exchange|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CSIAkgk-qasC&pg=PA119|year=1998|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-59021-1}}
*{{cite book|last=Sen|first=Soumen|title=Khasi-Jaintia Folklore: Context, Discourse, and History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r6p0GXek13cC&pg=PA48|year=2004|publisher=NFSC www.indianfolklore.org|isbn=978-81-901481-3-9}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tribes of Meghalaya]]
[[Category:People from Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Khasi people]]
[[Category:Women's rights in India]]
[[Category:Matriarchy]]

Matrilineal society of Meghalaya - Revision history

KariMccool73 at 12:50, 23 March 2025

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article