The Khasi Garo community is known for its customs.
The Khasi and Garo tribal communities of Meghalaya have been following the matriarchal tradition for centuries, but in the last few years there has been a growing demand for equality between men and women.
This is also happening because many families do not have daughters or if the daughter chooses a boy from outside the tribal community for marriage, she goes out. In such a situation, the problem arises regarding the heir.
Organization running for 33 years to free men from the domination of women
Singhkhong Rimpai Themmai (A New Home) is an organization working to end the matrilineal system of Meghalaya. This institution was established in April, 1990. According to the office bearers of the organization, its aim is to free men from the domination of women.
These tribes came from Burma and settled in North East India.
The people of the Khasi tribe with a population of about 1.7 million are mainly settled in the Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya. They are also present in good numbers in parts of Assam, Manipur, West Bengal and Bangladesh.
It is said that these people are migrants from Burma, that is, they are going to settle today’s Myanmar. Coming from Myanmar centuries ago, these people established their settlements in the regions of Northeast India including Meghalaya. On the other hand, the population of Garo tribe in Meghalaya is about 3 million.
If a daughter is born to carry on the lineage, it is celebrated
The birth of a girl child is celebrated here, while the birth of a son is less celebrated than in the rest of India.
Every family wants a daughter to be born in their house, so that the lineage continues and the family gets its protector. Only women bear the responsibility of children, men do not have that much authority over children.
Women should decide, daughter should get rights
In the Khasi community, the decisions are taken by the women of the house. Here it is the responsibility of women to take care of the family and society.
Children are also given surnames after the mother’s name. Daughters, especially the youngest daughter, have the right over ancestral property. The younger daughter stays with her husband in the maiden to take care of the parents.
Matriarchal system was once there in the Nair community of Kerala as well.
Prior to the 20th century, the Nair community of Kerala was also a matrilineal society, which was changed through legislation in 1925. Thereafter, Meghalaya remained the only place in India where matriarchal families prevailed.