Matrilineality is the tracing of descent through the female line. It may also correlate with a societal system in which each person is identified with their matriline – their mother's lineage – and which can involve the inheritance of property and/or titles. A matriline is a line of descent from a female ancestor to a descendant (of either sex) in which the individuals in all intervening generations are mothers – in other words, a "mother line". In a matrilineal descent system, an individual is considered to belong to the same descent as her or his mother. This matrilineal descent pattern is in contrast to the more common pattern of patrilineal descent from which a family name is usually derived.
The word matrilineal is derived from the Latin words ‘Mater’ which means mother and ‘linea’ which means a line.
The Khasi are an indigenous or tribal people, the majority of whom live in the State of Meghalaya in north east India, with small populations in neighbouring Assam, and in parts of Bangladesh. They call themselves Ki Hynñiew trep, which means "the seven huts" in the Khasi language.
The Khasis are one of the ever decreasing cultures that follow the matrilineal system. In the Khasi culture, the children take the surname of their mother and trace their ancestry through her, the youngest daughter inherits the property of the parents and the men are expected to move into the home of the wife when he gets married. Traditional Khasi families are headed by a matriarch.
According to Valentina Pakyntein, an anthropologist at North Eastern Hill University (Nehu), the matrilineal system goes back to a time when Khasis had several partners and it was hard to determine the paternity of children. While some organizations of no scholarly background claim that it was due to the Khasi ancestors being away from home for too long.
Whatever the reason the impact of matriliny is apparent on Khasi culture, as it is currently one of the most liberal and progressive in all of India. Meghalaya is very popular among female tourists from many parts of the country and even from outside India and has contributed vastly to the tourism industry and economy in the state.
However a threat has emerged against this culture. This threat began with the arrival of the British and the subsequent colonizing of India by them. The British brought with them their religion and cultural practices which was deeply patriarchal and misogynistic. Khasis were one the few tribes in India which accepted western religion en mass so much so that today Christianity makes up over 73% of the state and rising. (From 2001, the latest Census result is not available as the government has yet to publish yet but in all probability the number has risen).
This has caused an erosion of Khasi culture and an erosion of Khasi values and beliefs. In a culture where once women were respected and held in high regard the situation is now declining. The crimes of domestic abuse against women in Meghalaya is the highest in the entire North East region, but this however means that women of Meghalaya are braver and more willing to report abuse than women in other states. Meghalaya fares quite badly in terms of number of elected female politicians too compared to many other states in the region, the state has never had a female Chief Minister.
The Khasi culture is in a stage of transition, modernity has had a deep impact. It is impossible to go back, change is inevitable. Access to the internet too has drastically change behaviour on many urban Khasi youths. I believe the Khasi matrilineal system is worth saving. It makes Khasis unique and it goes against western Abhrahamic misogyny and patriarchy which can only be a good thing. The Khasi people should learn to adopt new cultural practices and beliefs and be more accomodating but at the same time it must preserve some of its culture, especially relating to the matrilineal system by rejecting some aspects of western culture and religion. The initiative for this rests with the women of the Khasi people. If no steps are taken the future of the Khasi tribe looks bleak.
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