Raphael Warjri

The matrilineal clan lineage is considered sacred by the Khasi people till today, even as the extent of sanctity has declined in the urban middle-class society, due to the onslaught of popular and dominated patriarchal culture. Perhaps, the term matriliny needs to be redefined in the Khasi context of clan relationships to achieve a more precise and specific definition. The attachment of the maternal mother and paternal mother to their respective children in the process of the human reproduction system is abided in all respects. The paternal mother is considered as the provider of a father, a male parent responsible for contributing the seeds to another core family, while the distinct identity of the paternal and maternal families is maintained separately through the mother of each particular clan. The father keeps the clan of his mother and his wife and children retain the clan of their mother or grandmother. Mothers have always been held in high regard in society and considered the core in the formation of the cognate family, while the maternal uncles are the defender of the honour and integrity of the core family. All the descending children or siblings trace their ancestry from the mother, and the umbilical cord is a string of life within the clan. The Khasi myth about U Lum Sohpetbneng, literally means the Mount of Heavenly Navel is the foundation of the genesis of mankind. The myth relates that the souls of the human race descended from heaven through the Golden Vine on the Mount of Heavenly Navel; in Khasi- Ka Jingkieng Ksiar U Lum Sohpetbneng. Therefore, the world view of the Khasi myth is universal and inclusive of the entire humankind; notably, the soul of the entire human race descended from heaven through the Golden Vine of the Mount of Heavenly Navel.

This Khasi myth on the genesis of humankind is the founding principle of the traditional system of Khasi matrilineal clan lineage. The matriliny in the ancient Khasi society prevailed for eon before the emergence of the essence of faith as a religious system, through which incantation and libation, rituals, and ceremonies are being performed in every aspect of the social, cultural, and political situation in the society. The anthropological theory substantiated that initially, every human society practiced matriliny because of the fact that every mother is the immediate companion of her own children by virtue of birth and natal nourishment. In the ancient past, every infant clung to their mother for emotional and physical support and protection till they were capable of independent movement on their own personal ability. The surviving culture of the matrilineal system has a firm foundation in every community throughout the world, which they have been able to sustain in spite of the overwhelming dominant patriarchal system that has become the social trend for every modern society at most countries in the world. Contrary to the rigid tenets of Islam religion towards female members in the society, the majority Muslim populace among the Minangkabou people of Indonesia, is still the largest community practicing matrilineal culture with endurance and absolute commitment. The same is prevalent in many matrilineal societies across the world, even as there are some who have converted to or assimilated with the patriarchal system, while few others are in the process of change. Nevertheless, many communities strongly abided by the matrilineal system of clan lineage. Prominent among them are the Musuo in China, Akan, Ashanti, and Tuareg in Africa, the Serer of Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania, Minangkabou of Indonesia, Khasi and Garo of India and Bangladesh.

Social change takes place in the way that is best suited to a particular community in a given situation in the present context, which that particular generation might not be able to foresee the future prospect of the community in terms of the survival of their respective ethnic identity. Therefore, it is important that the changes in the approximate period of a particular generation be considered for any further changes in the future at such a similar period or more. That is to understand that any consequences in the society that are indicated and traced to the root cause of a particular period, will require more or less the same period or more to restore to its original form or to rejuvenate to a modified form, even as that society is keeping pace with the contemporary situation. If the tolerance of a particular community towards another for refuge and rehabilitation leads to coexistence in a cosmos, assimilation may take place in harmony or conflict. However, absolute harmony seems impossible in human society when one asserts supremacy over the other with the approach of survival of the fittest and endeavour for exclusivity. Gradually, the vulnerable may experience suppression and express dissent with the dominant community. Certain factors may influence social dominance by the migrants and refugees over the original inhabitants; resistance is bound to take place and will lead to conflict and counter-confrontation among the communities. In the course of time when assimilation took place during the period of social harmony, ethnic assertion in any cr period may lead to probable conflict. Therefore, to sustain the ethnic identity of a particular community, it is important to introspect into the history and even the mythology of such a community, in order to preserve and protect the cultural characteristics of the community.