Garo & Khasi: A Comparative Study in Matrilineal Systems

by Chie Nakane

Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Aira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a detailed ethnographic and sociological comparison of two matrilineal societies in Northeast India. Nakane begins by outlining the fundamental matrilineal principles common to both the Garo and Khasi groups—such as descent traced through the mother’s line and property ownership resting with women—while noting that despite this, men often hold the controlling authority over the property. This duality forms a key tension in both societies, one Nakane analyzes keenly through the lens of kinship and social power structures.

Nakane emphasizes that while the Garo and Khasi share the minimum criteria of matrilineal organization, their social structures differ significantly in the composition and solidarity of property or descent groups. The Khasi property group tends to be defined by a shallower generational descent, fostering a tighter-knit solidarity, whereas the Garo descent groups are maintained by the cooperation of two distinct local lineages, resulting in a comparatively weaker group cohesion. This divergence reflects varying social dynamics tied to kinship and locality within the matrilineal framework.

Beyond kinship, Nakane also explores the impact of external cultural and religious influences on these societies. She highlights how the expansion of both the Garo and Khasi into surrounding lowland areas subjects them to stronger interactions with Hindu culture and Christian missionary activity. These contacts bring cultural change, challenging traditional matrilineal customs and introducing new social norms. Nakane’s study thus situates kinship systems within broader historical and social transformations, illustrating how matrilineal society adapts and negotiates with external pressures.

Nakane’s analysis is noteworthy for its nuanced understanding that matrilineality is not a monolithic or universally uniform system; rather, it accommodates substantial internal variation shaped by social, economic, and historical contexts. By comparing the Garo and Khasi, she deepens the scholarly appreciation of matrilineal systems as complex social organizations where women’s property rights and lineage are centralized but the exercise of power, lineage solidarity, and cultural continuity involve intricate balances of gender and authority.

Garo and Khasi offers a rich, comparative perspective on matrilineality, unpacking how descent, property, gender roles, and cultural encounters interrelate in shaping these distinctive societies, and providing valuable insight into the dynamics of matrilineal kinship beyond essentialist or simplistic portrayals.