UNIQUENESS OF THE MATRILINEAL SYSTEM AMIDST THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURE AND CUSTOMS OF THREE MAJOR TRIBES IN MEGHALAYA: A SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH

This research explores the unique matrilineal practices of Meghalaya, India, home to the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintiya tribes, known for their matrilineal culture where inheritance and family titles are passed through the maternal line. This study aims to document and analyze these practices to understand their role in female empowerment and their implications for social, political, and economic domains. Key research questions include the uniqueness of matrilineal practices, their interplay with cultural diversity and comparisons with the major tribes of Meghalaya. Meghalayan matrilineal systems are distinguished by their flexibility and robustness, promoting social cohesion and economic stability by retaining property within the maternal lineage and enhancing family wealth. These systems afford women significant social standing and control over family and community affairs, challenging traditional gender roles and power dynamics. They shape social structures, influence marriage customs, and kinship networks, and foster community cohesion through matrilocality, which strengthens extended family bonds and maternal ties. However, contemporary socio-economic changes pose challenges to maintaining these cultural traditions. Despite these pressures, Meghalayan matrilineal societies continue to offer valuable insights into social structures, women’s roles, and inheritance systems within indigenous communities. This study contributes to sociological theories on gender roles and family structures, highlighting the adaptability and diversity of kinship systems across different cultural contexts. Policy recommendations include funding for community-led projects, integrating indigenous knowledge systems in education, and safeguarding matrilineal inheritance rights. Empowering women within this framework is crucial for enhancing broader social structures and community cohesiveness. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies, comparative analyses, policy advocacy, and interdisciplinary approaches to further understand and support these matrilineal societies. By examining the matrilineal practices in Meghalaya, this research provides important insights that could inform policies aimed at advancing women’s rights and gender equality in other regions of India and beyond.