Inside Meghalaya's Village Where Matriliny Challenges Patriarchy

In a world that is highly influenced by patriarchal societies, there exists a very intriguing society in the green hills of Meghalaya, located in Northeastern India. The Khasi tribe of this region follows the practice of matriliny, which is basically an extremely unique social and legal system whereby lineage, ancestral property and last names are only passed down through the maternal side of the family, from mother to daughter. In well-known villages such as Mawlynnong, girls are considered to be the total guardians of the future of the family, as the youngest girl in the family gets to inherit the property of the family.

What Is Matriliny And How Is It Different From Matriarchy?

Matriliny refers to a social and legal system whereby lineage, ancestry, and property inheritance are defined through the mother’s side only, meaning that it is passed from the mother to her daughter. Matriliny is commonly misunderstood for matriarchy; however, these are totally distinct terms. While the term matriarchy refers to a theoretical type of society wherein women have supreme political power and rule the society, matriliny entails an organisation of lineage and property inheritance through women without necessarily having political power.

Which Village In Meghalaya Follows The Matrilineal System?

The practice of the matrilineal system prevails in the entire Khasi Hills area of Meghalaya. Villages such as Mawlynnong, which enjoys international fame as Asia's cleanest village, are perfect illustrations of this practice. Mawlynnong and other villages that are home to the Khasis, an indigenous tribe in India, follow traditional family values where the family name is taken after the name of the mother. The property and family wealth are not passed on to the sons but are bequeathed to the Khadduh, the youngest daughter of the family.

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What Role Do Men Play In A Matrilineal Society?

In the matrilineal system of Meghalaya, men perform roles that consist of a mixture of domestic obligations as well as political power. In the household setting, an uncle is the primary advisor of the family, where he helps in making family decisions and controls the distribution of ancestral property. The husband of a woman goes to live in his wife’s home to support the family lineage of his wife. Even though women possess the privileges of family possessions and names, it is the men who control the village council.

Everyday Life In Meghalaya's Matrilineal Village

The daily existence of Khasi villages is a perfect representation of this patriarchal culture without discriminating against men. The birth of a daughter is always greeted with much celebration since it means survival for the lineage of that particular clan. Children inherit their mothers' surnames, while young girls tend to be secure in life and conduct business alone in the village and in markets. Daily interactions in the community revolve around respect between the sexes, where women are empowered through their financial freedom, and men are involved as guardians and equals in cultural preservation.

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Image credits: Freepik

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